Turf Paradise: Uncle Dave holds off Red Zeus in Luke Kruytbosch

The competition in Tuesday’s $35,000 Luke Kruytbosch Stakes at Turf Paradise was tougher than in Uncle Dave’s previous start, but the result was the same – a front-running victory.

Coming off a wire-to-wire score in a Turf Paradise allowance race, Uncle Dave seized the early lead in the 1 1/16-mile Kruytbosch, put away pace rival Stoneridge Gold after six furlongs, and kept favored Red Zeus at bay for a 1 1/4-length victory. On the Key finished third in the field of eight 3-year-olds.

Ridden by Luis Rodriguez, Uncle Dave covered the 1 1/16 miles on the fast main track in 1:42.62. Uncle Dave, a Langfuhr gelding owned by Betty Bay and trained by Manuel Ortiz, paid $18 to win.

The stakes is named for Luke Kruytbosch, track announcer at Turf Paradise, Churchill Downs and other tracks, who died in 2008 at age 47.