Rivoltella relishes sloppy track

Rivoltella, a proven stakes winner in the mud, relished the sloppy going at Turf Paradise as she easily won Sunday's $50,000 Kachina Handicap.

Owned by George Todaro and trained by Blaine Wright, Rivoltella ($11.20) had won the Washington Oaks at Emerald Downs last August on a sloppy track.

In the Kachina, she broke slowly in the one-mile race for fillies and mares, but was still able to gain a position in midpack by the first turn. She bided her time to the top of the lane, swung out, and powered past the field to win easily by 4 3/4 lengths under Glenn Corbett.

Merrily, who had opened up a big lead while setting the pace, stayed on to be second, 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Film Editor, who rallied from last for third. Fleet Caroline, the 2-1 favorite, was a neck back in fourth in the field reduced to nine after the scratch of morning-line favorite Gemstone Rush.

Rivoltella ran the distance in 1:38.22 on a sloppy/sealed track. The winner's share of $30,000 pushed her career earnings to $127,040 from 3 wins in 8 starts.