Recount returns to win Land of Lincoln Stakes

Recount made his first start Saturday in the $50,000 Land of Lincoln Stakes since he won the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity on Sept. 6, and he definitely was ready for it.

Recount pressed what should have been a taxing pace set by the favored Dom the Bomb, put his front-end rival away in midstretch, and went on to a comfortable win the Land of Lincoln, looking very much like the top Illinois-bred 3-year-old in training.

Dom the Bomb, breaking from post 1 and coming up to contest the early lead, set splits of 21.43 seconds and 44.62 with Recount lapped on his flank. Even on a glib racing surface and with a backstretch headwind, that was a hot pace, but Recount raced strongly in the bridle and appeared to be going easily enough.

“He was carrying me the whole way around,” said winning rider Manny Esquivel.

Dom the Bomb had nothing for the stretch drive, fading off the board, but Recount continued solidly to the wire, stopping the timer in 1:10.23 for six furlongs on a fast track. Wind was a factor in the timing. At race time, there was a backstretch tailwind of about 12 miles per hour.

As second choice, Dom the Bomb paid $6.80 to win. Market Rad rallied along the inside for second, and Wildwood Nafir finished third.

Doubledown Stables owns Recount, and Jim DiVito, who did excellent work readying the horse for this comeback race after a break of more than seven months, trains him. Recount is by Limehouse and was purchased at auction for $40,000. He now has won 3 of 4 starts, tallying for the first time on dirt after winning a pair on Arlington’s Polytrack last summer.

Lady Kelia surprises in Pretty Jenny

Lady Kelia notched a $38 upset score in the $57,750 Pretty Jenny Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, stalking the pace and pushing past Hollarforadollar in the final furlong to register a two-length win.

Carlos Montalvo rode the winner for owner-breeder Patty Macari and trainer Gail Macari, the latter winning a stakes for the first time after 784 career starters.

Scatladybdancing was a well-beaten third, while the favored Timeaday never got into the running and checked in sixth. The winner, by The Bold Bruiser, was timed in 1:11.31 for six furlongs on a fast track.