Sweet Victory scores in Penn Oaks

GRANTVILLE, Pa. - Sweet Victory settled off the early leaders in the $200,000 Penn Oaks, bid three wide nearing the stretch, and then pulled away to a 1 1/2-length victory in the one-mile turf race Saturday evening at Penn National Race Course.

Sweet Victory, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Javier Castellano, paid $8 as the third choice in the six-horse field. She was timed in 134.68 over firm ground.

"It was very impressive the way she did it today," Castellano said.

Conquest Serenade set early fractions of 23.25 seconds, 47.28, and 1:10.91 while being tracked by Involuntary, with Sweet Victory racing in third. Involuntary, ridden by Trevor McCarthy, went by Conquest Serenade in upper stretch, then ducked inward in front of her. Conquest Serenade clipped the heels of Involuntary and fell.

Jockey Florent Geroux said he was okay after the race and Norm Casse, assistant to his father, Mark, said Conquest Serenade did not appear to be badly injured.

Outside Art, who was difficult to saddle on the walk in the paddock, finished fourth but was elevated from fourth to third.