S'maverlous delivers as favorite in Mountainview Handicap

GRANTVILLE, Pa. - S'maverlous pressed the early pace outside longshot Charitable Annuity in the $200,000 Mountainview Handicap, then took over in the stretch and went on to defeat Red Rifle by 2 1/2 lengths Saturday night at Penn National.

S'maverlous, trained by Mike Maker and owned by the Gata Stable of Ron Hubert and partners, came into the 1 1/8-mile race off a fifth-place finish in the Charles Town Classic, a race where Stanford and Page McKenney raced one-two throughout.

S'maverlous has improved markedly since being claimed for $32,000 by Maker at Belmont Park last September. He won the New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds in March.

Florent Geroux, who was aboard Conquest Serenade in the Penn Oaks on Saturday evening when she clipped heels and fell, rode S'maverlous to victory in the Mountainview. He came back in the next race to win the $500,000 Penn Mile on Catch a Glimpse.

S'maverlous, the 6-5 favorite, paid $4.60. He was timed in 1:49.55 over a fast track.

Red Rifle was never far back in the Mountainview but couldn't quicken with the winner in the stretch. Charitable Annuity finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Red Rifle in the five-horse field.

Top Billing, the 3-1 third choice trained by Shug McGaughey, trailed the field early and then was pulled up by jockey Kendrick Carmouche on the backstretch.

Carmouche said he felt Top Billing take a slight bobble and wanted to make sure he was okay. Jerry Pack, the association veterinarian at Penn National, said he palpitated Top Billing's legs and did not detect and fractures.

"I felt both his legs and did not feel any swelling," Pack said.

Top Billing walked onto the van under his own power and was transported back to the receiving barn.

Pa. Governor's Cup: Take Cover upsets Ben's Cat

Take Cover stretched his win streak to three races by scoring his first stakes victory in the $150,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup.

Take Cover, trained by Alan Goldberg and owned by Richard Santulli, won a maiden turf sprint at Fair Grounds in early March and a first-level allowance at Laurel Park in April prior to the Governor's Cup.

Under a smooth ride by Joe Bravo, Take Cover raced in the second flight along the inside early, came out three wide nearing the stretch, and was up to defeat front-running Spring to the Sky by a half-length.

Ben's Cat, the 6-5 favorite, finished well for third but had too much work to do in the stretch. He was beaten a length for second by Spring to the Sky.

"I'm the biggest Ben's Cat fan but we had a beautiful trip tonight," Bravo said. "He was breathing so comfortably early and when I tilted him outside he just took off. Alan really had him ready to run."

Take Cover, a 4-year-old son of War Front, was timed in 56.00 seconds. He paid $11 as the fourth betting choice in the seven-horse field. Take Cover is now 3 for 9.