Thistledown: Golden Tour holds on

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Golden Tour broke sharply from her rail post position to make the lead, set all the pace while being cleverly rated by veteran jockey Tommy Meyers, and dug in gamely to prevail by a head over the rallying Oh So Easy in the 10th running of the $45,000, 1 1/16-mile Merry Time Stakes.

It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Whitewater Way.

Ashwood C C, the 3-5 favorite, faded to be fourth after drawing on even terms for the lead with Golden Tour at the quarter pole.

Owned and trained by W. John Bourke, Golden Tour got the distance in 1:46.10 over the fast strip and returned $12.60.