Spice Island wins Riddle Dowager Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Spice Island, overlooked at nearly 12-1, drew off with surprising ease Sunday to defeat nine other fillies and mares in the $150,000 Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes on the turf at Keeneland.

Ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, Spice Island returned $25.60 after finishing 6 1/4 lengths ahead of Ocean Silk, the highly touted English invader who was the odds-on favorite under Pat Day. Peacefally finished another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Spice Island, a 4-year-old Tabasco Cat filly, is owned by Denlea Park Ltd. and trained by John Pregman Jr. She finished 1 1/2 miles in 2:31.93 over firm going. "We had a great trip all the way," Velasquez said.

Ocean Silk, the 7-10 favorite, struggled most of the way before getting up late for second. "Everything she did, I had to make her do," Day said.