Potomac River rallies to win Sunset Stakes

OPELOUSAS, La. – Unhurried early under Carlos Marquez, Potomac River swung out five wide turning for home and unleashed a powerful rally to capture the Sunset Stakes at Evangeline Downs, the first of three $75,000 stakes events on the grass Saturday night.

Help From Heaven, who recovered from a rough start to take command into the stretch, had to settle for second, while 4-5 favorite Stormdriver lacked his customary late kick and finished third. Pacesetter Keg Party weakened to fourth in the 1 1/16-mile test. The final time was 1:41.37 over firm going.

Trained by Jose Camejo for Maribel Ruelas, Potomac River ($6.80) picked up his first win since accounting for the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap in early 2014. The 6-year-old son of English Channel has won seven of 25 starts, with earnings of more than $382,000.

In the one-mile Opelousas Stakes for fillies and mares, it was like déjà vu all over again, as Welcome Aboard, wearing the same No. 6 as Potomac River, swung out five wide after trailing the field exiting the final turn and closed with a flourish to be up in time. Her winning margin was the same three-quarters of a length as Potomac River’s. In My Time, who set the pace, held on gamely to salvage the runner-up spot, followed by Hot Tempo.

Ridden by Filemon Rodriguez and trained by Eric Reed, Welcome Aboard paid $15.60 in her local debut. The Michael Catalano and Richard Boyer color bearer covered the eight panels in 1:36.29. The 5-year-old Rock Hard Ten mare has banked more than $190,000, with eight wins from 21 starts.

In the night’s final stakes, Quick Dagger, also wearing No. 6, outdueled heavy favorite Heitai to capture the Turf Express by a head. Win Lion Win was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.

Cleverly handled by C.J. McMahon, Quick Dagger ($9.40) broke in good order and sat right behind the early duel between Heitai and Snappy Girl. McMahon moved to challenge on the outside turning for home, and despite being floated out by the runner-up entering the straight, the winner put a head in front past the furlong marker and did not relent in the dash to the wire, stopping the timer in a quick 55.29 seconds for five furlongs.

Karl Broberg conditions the winner for End Zone Athletics, which claimed the Northern Afleet gelding for $40,000 in March from the Joe Sharp barn at Fair Grounds. With eight wins from 20 starts, Quick Dagger has banked $202,000.