Pay Billy returns to winner's circle, eyes Native Dancer

Pay Billy, a two-time stakes winner who ran seventh in the Preakness last year, got back to his winning ways last Friday at Laurel Park. The 4-year-old colt notched his first victory in nearly a year in a $56,000 allowance, giving trainer Mike Gorham confidence in the path ahead.

“He’s definitely progressed in the last month or so,” Gorham said. “He was in a couple of tough races before, and he just seems to be getting better so far this year.”

In a glowing start to his 3-year-old campaign last year, Pay Billy won 3 of 4 starts, losing his only race by a nose to Barbadian Runner in the $100,000 Miracle Wood. He went on to win the $100,000 Private Terms and $150,000 Federico Tesio.

After running behind Journalism in the Preakness, Gorham gave Pay Billy a long rest and brought him back in November. He has improved in four starts since, culminating in his two-length score at a mile last week, for which he earned a career-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

Gorham said he will now consider stakes again for his colt. The $100,000 Native Dancer on April 4 at Laurel could be ideal, allowing him to stretch back out to 1 1/8 miles.

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