Southern Tour again

HOT SPRINGS, Ark - Southern Tour ran down pacesetter Cinnful Bride to successfully defend her title in the $50,000 at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.

In the six-furlong Carousel, Southern Tour ($6.80) sat in fourth early while Cinnful Bride led the field through an opening quarter in 21.70 seconds. Southern Tour advanced around the turn through a half-mile in 45.26 seconds, and won by three-quarters of length, covering six furlongs in 1:11.01.

Brown Eyed Beauty, the favorite, closed for third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Cinnful Bride.

Jamie Theriot rode Southern Tour for Bellamy Stable and leading trainer Cole Norman.

One race prior, Strodes Commander ($3.40) won the $50,000 Rainbow for 3-year-olds bred in Arkansas. Strodes Commander broke a step slow, had to steady behind horses down the backside, then came around horses on the final turn to go on to a 3 1/2-length win. Pistol Avenue finished second, a neck in front of Quote Me Later.

Strodes Commander covered six furlongs in 1:11.45. Terry Thompson rode the winner for B & K Stables and trainer Larry Jones.

* Private Emblem ($4.20) was a four-length winner of his comeback from a six-month layoff in the eighth race, a one-mile optional claimer.