Philadelphia Park track report

Who says lightning doesn't strike twice?

Apprentice jockey Bacarra Rice lit up the Philadelphia Park tote board twice on Monday's program by winning with a pair of highly improbable longshots.

Rice coaxed Gold Exchange, a 4-year-old filly who had not finished closer to the winner than 16 lengths in her last eight starts, to a wire-to-wire win in a $4,000 claiming sprint. She paid $126.80 for a $2 win ticket.

Then in the ninth race, Rice pulled off a similar feat. Great Aunt Alice, a 6-year-old mare who had finished last or next to last in her last three races, circled the field in a 7 1/2-furlong turf race and got up by a length, paying $108.40.

Rice admitted afterward that she was as shocked as anyone.

"I don't know what happened," Rice said. "A friend had called me and asked what I had today and I said, 'just a couple of slow ones.' She told me to go out and ride them like favorites."

Rice, who had never ridden either horse before, just tried to follow whatever hints trainers Ladeana Batisda and David Dotolo could offer.

With Gold Exchange, said Rice, Batisda told her "to just try to stay close and hope for the best. She broke in front and never stopped," Rice said.

"With Alice, trainer David Dotolo told me to just keep her wide, that she didn't like stuff in her face. Her form was bad and I asked if she had ever had a girl jock. He said no. Maybe that's what did it."