Rubber takes Jennie Wade Stakes

Rubber ($24.40) closed strongly in the stretch under jockey Angel Rodriguez to win Thursday night's $60,000 Jennie Wade Stakes for filly and mare sprinters at Penn National Race Course.

A 5-year-old mare who came into the five-furlong race just 2 for 18 lifetime on grass, Rubber came from seventh in a field of eight to draw clear by 1 1/4 lengths, covering the five furlongs in 56.12 seconds over yielding turf.

Hi Beautiful, an 18-1 shot who looked like a winner when she opened up a two-length lead at the stretch call, was nosed out for second by Anofficerandalady. Intentional Fever was fourth, a neck behind Hi Beautiful, as the 6-5 favorite.

It was the first career stakes victory for Diane Day, who trains the Irish-bred Rubber for Pinelane Farm and Catherine Scarborough. Day had not even saddled a stakes runner since 1998.

Rodriguez, based at Philadelphia Park, is now a remarkable 4 for 6 in stakes this season, with three of those victories on Jet Away Jane.