St. Albans Boy prevails in Laurel Turf Cup photo

St. Albans Boy won a head bob from between horses to take the $100,000 Laurel Turf Cup by a nose over Perfect Title on Saturday at Laurel Park. It was a head farther back to Uncle Dave along the inside.

St. Albans Boy, coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland for trainer Kelly Rubley, never was far back in the 1 1/2-mile Turf Cup. Barton Holt, a 15-1 shot, set an uncontested and somewhat slow pace of 25.12 seconds, 50.49, 1:15.23, and 1:40.40 over good ground with Uncle Dave stalking in second and St. Albans Boy in third.

Uncle Dave and St. Albans Boy took over entering the stretch. They were joined in the final sixteenth by the late-running Perfect Title, who had commenced his bid four wide on the far turn. St. Albans Boy, under jockey Daniel Centeno, came out on the winning end of a tight photo.

St. Albans Boy, the 7-2 second choice in the 10-horse field, paid $9.20. He was timed in 2:28.69 after 1 1/4 miles in 2:04.72.

"I think he has a lot of grit," said Rubley.

Divine Oath, the 6-5 favorite, raced in good early position but lacked a rally when asked and finished seventh. Barton Holt was last.