Pinson noses Paganol in Jim Rasmussen Memorial

The 5-year-old gelding Pinson lives on the border of high-end claimer and low-end stakes horse. Monday, he got into the right stakes race at the right time and won the $65,000 Jim Rasmussen Memorial at Prairie Meadows – but just barely.

Pinson was up by a nose over 19-10 favorite Paganol in the Rasmussen after chasing him all the way around the track. The top two were clearly best, with Chief Know It All another 2 ½ lengths back in third.

Paganol opened a clear early lead and set a solid pace with Pinson a length or two behind him most of the trip. Pinson found life in midstretch as Paganol either tired or lost focus, and just got his head down in time.

Pinson, ridden to victory by David Cabrera for trainer Randy Morse and owner Richard Bahde, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.66 and paid $8.80 to win.

Pinson is by Majestic Warrior and out of Celtic Song, by Giant’s Causeway, and now has a record of 6-5-4 from 30 starts.