River: 'King' takes to turf

Acts Like a King ($12), a beaten favorite in two of his last three starts, made amends when he tried the turf for the first time in the $50,000 Horizon Stakes for 3-year-old Ohio-breds at River Downs.

Ridden by Nick Solomon for trainer Kris Nemann, Acts Like a King outkicked 2-1 favorite Fisticuff in deep stretch to prevail by a half-length in the 1 1/16-mile turf race. Petey G, an 11-1 shot, finished third, a nose in front of 15-1 pacesetter Rhodesleadtoheaven.

Acts Like a King won his maiden in a restricted stakes at River in July 2005 and was the beaten 3-5 favorite in his last start at 2 in the Juvenile at Beulah Park. In his first two starts this season, Acts Like a King finished 32 lengths behind in a stakes sprint at Beulah Park and second as the 1-2 favorite in a six-furlong first-level allowance.

The winning time over a firm course was 1:43.80.