Syntax holds off late challenge to win Kent

STANTON, Del. – Syntax made a sharp move to the lead in midstretch, then held off a good bid from Money Multiplier to win the Grade 3 Kent Stakes by a half-length Saturday at Delaware Park.

Syntax, trained by Bill Mott, was winning his second straight race after taking a first-level allowance June 20 at Belmont Park. Owned by Matthew Schera, Syntax now is 3 for 8 in his career and has won three of his last four starts.

Junior Alvardo was aboard Syntax in the $200,000 Kent.

"I put him in a nice stalking position," Alvarado said. "He was ready to go at the half-mile pole, but I followed All I Karabout and then tipped him out at the top of the stretch. He gave me a monster kick."

Money Multiplier, raced just behind the winner to the stretch, then finished with a late surge to be gaining at the wire.

Syntax paid $7 to win as the third choice in the seven-horse field. He covered the 1 1/8 miles over firm turf in 1:49.77.

My Team set the pace in the Kent while being stalked by his Graham Motion-trained stablemate All I Karabout. The pair remained on the lead to midstretch, then flattened out to finish in a dead heat for fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

The early fractions were 25.40 seconds, 49.79, 1:13.87, and 1:37.76.

Chief Kitten, the 2-1 favorite, was bumped a stride from the gate and shuffled back to last. He finished seventh, beaten 6 1/4 lengths.

Hockessin: Heaven's Runway surprises

Fast Anna, the 1-2 favorite in the Hockessin, a six-furlong sprint, set blazing fractions before tiring late and finishing third, beaten three-quarters of a length.

Fast Anna sprinted off to an early five-length lead in the Hockessin, clicking off fractions of 21.66 and 44.49. He held a two-length lead into the final furlong under jockey Michael Ritvo but weakened late.

Heaven's Runway, the longest price in the field at 10-1, raced closest to Fast Anna early, then closed steadily to get up and take the lead in the final sixteenth.

Heaven's Runway, trained by Tim Ice, paid $22.60. He was timed in 1:09.14.

Bourbon Courage, making his first start for Graham Motion closed with a rush up the rail but was beaten three-quarters of a length while finishing a nose ahead of Fast Anna. Purple Egg trailed.

Hanford Memorial: Ain't Got Time wins on lead

Ain't Got Time raced on the early pace with Decisive Moment, drew clear on the backstretch, then held off Normandy Invasion late to win the $50,000 Carl Hanford Memorial Stakes by three-quarters of a length.

Ain't Got Time, trained by Tim Richey and ridden by Scott Spieth, paid $10.40. Ain't Got Time covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:39.59. The Hanford originally had a field of 10, but scratches reduced the field to four.

The Handford was the first stakes score for Ain't Got Time, who now is 4 for 10 in his career.

Normandy Invasion, making the second start of his comeback following a long layoff, was trying hard in the stretch but could not catch the winner. Micromanage finished third, 5 3/4 lengths farther back. Decisive Moment tired in the stretch to finish last.