Separato wins off week layoff

Though Separato was running in his first stakes off only a one-week layoff, the 3-year-old scored an impressive five-length victory in the $100,000 Larry R. Riviello Stakes at Philadelphia Park on Saturday.

Separato was claimed five starts back for $40,000, by trainer Tim Ritchey and owners C J V Racing Stable, and since then has three wins and a second.

Separato broke at the back of the pack and was last for the first half-mile, well behind a hot pace set by Judiths Wild Rush. Six furlongs in, nearing the final turn, Separato and jockey Jeremy Rose unleashed a powerful and sudden rally to begin picking off horses quickly along the rail. Turning for home, Separato was second, and then easily ran by Gadace's Khamseh on his outside.

Separato ran the mile and 70 yards in 1:41.93. He paid $8.60. Gadace's Khamseh was a clear second. Saint Joseph, the 5-2 favorite, finished third.

* True Sensation, the longest shot in a field of four, sat third, took the lead in the stretch, and won the $72,750 All Brandy at Pimlico by 1 1/2 lengths. River Cruise led till the stretch and was second. It was 28 lengths back to the favorite, Grace Bay, in third. True Sensation ran the 1/18 miles in 1:53.01 over a "good" track and paid $11.20.