Sweet Goodbye cruises in Conniver

Sweet Goodbye went from upsetter last out to heavy favorite on Saturday, and she did not let her backers down, winning the $70,000 Conniver Stakes at Laurel Park with ease.

Under J. D. Acosta, Sweet Goodbye - winner of the Feb. 15 Barbara Fritchie at 6-1 - pressed the pace of front-running Lori Z's Punch through the opening quarter-mile in 23.24 seconds in the seven-furlong Conniver, then went for the lead approaching the three-eighths pole. She readlily took over and was in commmand from there. All Giving gave chase but never threatened Sweet Goodbye, while Call of a Lion, who broke awkwardly enough that her rider briefly lost his iron, came up with a late run but could no better than second.

Sweet Goodbye. trained by Chris Grove, won by 2 1/4 lengths, finishing in 1:23.85 on a sealed, sloppy track and paying $2.40. The 35-1 Call of a Lion wound up four lengths ahead of third-place All Giving in the field of six fillies and mares.