Southern Exchange overcomes bad start

Southern Exchange ($8.50) overcame a miscue at the break to topple a quality field in Sunday's $150,900 Victoria Stakes, a five-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds at Woodbine.

With Jono Jones up, Southern Exchange broke behind his four rivals, but he regrouped quickly and ended up stalking the front-runner, Yo Joe, who got the opening quarter in 22.23 seconds.

Southern Exchange took control at the head of the stretch and then drew off for a 4 3/4-length score over the 4-5 favorite, Kentucky shipper Dicey Riley. Segal finished third in a race that was run in 57.48.

He stumbled a bit coming out of the gate," said Jones, "but he's an athletic horse, and in a jump he was back in it. I got him relaxed, and when we straightened up, I let him roll. He's improved from his last race. I knew it would take a runner to beat him today."

Southern Exchange, now unbeaten in two starts for trainer Greg De Gannes, earned $90,000 for owners Bill and Vicki Poston.

* Becky Sharp ($36.30) led all the way under Robert Landry to take the $100,800 Zadracarta, a six-furlong turf sprint, by 1 1/2 lengths.

Eeeny Meeny finished second but was disqualified and placed sixth. The winner covered the distance in 1:08.81, and banked $60,000 for owner Patricia Martin and trainer Andrew Smith.