Penn National: Lightning Electric stays perfect on turf by taking Smarty Jones HBPA

In April, Lightning Electric remained a 6-year-old maiden after failing to beat $7,000 claimers sprinting on dirt. Saturday, Lightning Electric became a stakes winner.

After beginning his career by going 1 for 8 on dirt, Lightning Electric is now 2 for 2 since he was tried going long on turf after taking the $60,000 Smarty Jones HBPA at Penn National.

The Smarty Jones was the second of two turf stakes restricted to the offspring of Pennsylvania stallions on a 10-race card devoted to Pennsylvania-bred and Pennsylvania-sired horses.

Based in Maryland with trainer King Leatherbury, Lightning Electric ($8.80) was part of a three-way stretch battle with 23-1 outsider Alpha Red and first-time turf runner Danny Newman. Jockey Julian Pimentel had to wait for room between horses before asking Lightning Electric for his best run in deep stretch. He completed 1 1/16 miles on a firm course in 1:42.24, finishing a length in front. Danny Newman held second by a neck over the 9-year-old Saco River.

Lightning Electric, owned by Norman Lewis, won his turf debut against $20,000 nonwinners-of-two claimers on June 8 by five lengths. He is now 3 for 10 lifetime.

Lenape Rim makes dirt-to-turf move work

Lenape Rim repeated a successful pattern when she nosed out Nasty Noozie in the $60,000 Wiseman’s Ferry HBPA for fillies and mares.

A year ago, Lenape Rim began her campaign by finishing fourth in a six-furlong dirt sprint. She came back a month later to win the Lyphard going 1 1/16 miles on turf.

The now 5-year-old Lenape Rim ($8), ridden by William Otero, began this season with a fourth-place finish in a six-furlong dirt sprint. She returned to turf for the 1 1/16-mile Wiseman’s Ferry and barely outfought Nasty Noozie while completing the distance in 1:42.11.

Nasty Noozie, ridden by Kayla Albright, was stepping up off a victory in a nonwinners-of-two $15,000 claimer for Pennsylvania-breds. Little Often Anni finished third at 9-1.

A daughter of Rimrod trained by Mike Salvaggio, who owns the mare in partnership with Norris Gelman and Daniel O’Connell, Lenape Rim is now 7 for 23 and $352,256.