Spruce Run takes Harding Stakes

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Spruce Run won the $50,000 Bob Harding Stakes to cap a bittersweet day at Monmouth Park for the Linda Rice stable.

They lost a promising colt earlier on the card when Sir Lochinvar fractured a sesamoid. The 3-year-old's status remained uncertain Sunday evening.

"He might be salvageable," said Sam Randazzo, who supervises Rice's Monmouth division. "That's a shame, because the horse was cut out to be something nice."

Spruce Run ($10.60) helped brighten the mood as he slid up the hedge to post his sixth career win. He ran the mile on the firm turf in 1:35.20.

Jose C. Ferrer, who won the Grade 3, $100,000 Sorority Stakes aboard Feline Story on Saturday, continued to enjoy a highly successful holiday weekend. Ferrer followed instructions to perfection.

"The plan today was to stalk off the speed," Randazzo said. "Jose had him sitting perfectly. He rode a perfect race."

Spruce Run prevailed by a half length over North East Bound with American Freedom third.

North East Bound, the 2000 Meadowlands Cup winner, posted his first in-the-money finish since winning the 2002 Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

* Grand Heritage ($4.20) surged in the lane to zip past King Carlos by one length to win the $50,000 Continental Mile for 2-year-olds on the turf.

Grand Heritage, trained by Bill Mott, is unbeaten in two grass starts.

Julian Pimentel rode the winner who ran the mile in 1:36.96.