Private Gift outduels Freei in Truly Bound

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Private Gift stalked the early pace under Robby Albarado before challenging the leader and edging clear to win Saturday's $75,000 Truly Bound Stakes at the Fair Grounds meeting at Louisiana Downs. Longshot Freei gave ground grudgingly down the lane and settled for second, followed by La Reason and Lucky Sabre. Go Girlfriend Go was a late scratch.

Trained by Neil Howard, Private Gift ($7.80) settled nicely behind early leader Slewpy's Storm, who set modest early fractions. Albarado eased Private Gift out for some room late on the final turn and engaged Freei, who had lodged a bid of her own a moment earlier. The top two finishers raced together past the furlong marker with Private Gift pulling clear by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:45.32 for the 1 1/16 miles over a fast track.

The victory was Private Gift's fifth from 15 starts. A 3-year-old daughter of Unbridled, she earned $45,000.