Pedigree play boosts Davis

Keith Davis of New Orleans was rewarded for tracking the offspring of Prime Timber, as one of the stallions sons, Batboy, pulled a 66-1 upset in a maiden race at Belmont Park to help Davis win the Louisiana Downs qualifier for the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship.

There were 149 entries in the October 14 competition, and Davis won with a bankroll of $195.40.

The key to his success was pegging Batboy in a maiden special weight race on turf. Davis said he selected the horse in part because he had been noticing the success Batboys sire, Grade 2 winner Prime Timber, was having with some of his turf starters. Batboy won by a neck in the mile and an eighth race, run over good turf at Belmont.

For the win in the Louisiana Downs tournament, Davis earned $10,000. The runner-up in the competition was Chris Meeks with a bankroll of $178.80, and the third-place finisher was David Hulkewicz, with a bankroll of $158.80. All three players earned a trip to Las Vegas to compete in the NHC.