Refuse to Bend wins 2000 Guineas

Refuse to Bend kept his undefeated record intact and gave trainer Dermot Weld his first triumph in the 2000 Guineas Saturday. Never far away under Pat Smullen, Refuse to Bend led at the eighth pole and held off the late rush of the 33-1 Zafeen by three-quarters of a length. Sent off at 9-2, Refuse to Bend ran the mile in 1:37.98 on good ground. The 100-1 Norse Dancer was third, a head behind Zafeen.

Refuse to Bend, a son of Sadler's Wells owned by Moyglare Stud Farm, will likely run in the Epsom Derby on June 7.

Hold That Tiger, the 4-1 Guineas favorite, finished 17th of 20, beaten 10 lengths. Godolphin's main hope, Lateen Sails finished last of 20.

* Godolphin had better luck with Hi Dubai in the 1 1/4-mile listed Pretty Polly Stakes. Hi Dubai was a length winner at 2-1 to earn a place in the English Oaks at Epsom on June 6.