Penn National: Filare l'Oro goes from last to first in Dauphin Miss

Filare l’Oro loved the yielding turf she encountered for the first time when she outran her 9-1 odds to finish a close second in the Grade 3 Virginia Oaks last time out and she relished the same type of soft ground at Penn National on Saturday.

Last of six after the first half-mile, Filare l’Oro made up a five-length deficit in the final furlong to run down favored welcome Dance in deep stretch to win the $100,000 Dauphin Miss for 3-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length.

Ridden by Wes Ho for Maryland-based trainer John Robb, Filare l’Oro ($15.40) completed the one-mile turf race in 1:42.69. Welcome Dance, the pacesetter under Joe Rocco Jr. who was three lengths in front at the eighth pole, held on for second by a length over 36-1 longshot Isla.

It was the second win in five starts on grass for Filare l’ Oro, a daughter of Hard Spun owned by Tim O’Donohue. She had lost her first three starts this season after closing out her 2011 campaign with a win in a first-level optional $50,000 claimer at Laurel Park last November.

Relay Bill, the second longest shot on the board at 22-1, stretched out beyond six furlongs for the first time in his four-race career and won his turf debut in the co-featured $100,000 Capital City for 3-year-olds.

Ridden by Clinton Potts, Relay Bill ($46.80) led through a slow six furlongs in 1:16.08, opened up a five-length lead at the eighth pole, and cruised home 3 1/4 lengths in front while completing the mile on soft turf in 1:41.56.

Margano, the 5-2 favorite, finished second, a half-length in front of Two Months Rent.

Relay Bill, a homebred son of Dance With Ravens owned by James Courtney and trained by Tim Kreiser, is now 2 for 4. He was the beaten favorite in the six-furlong Danzig in June and a first-level allowance on Aug. 3. Both of those races were restricted to Pennsylvania-breds.