Vagrancy upset leads to $238K carryover

ELMONT, N.Y. ­- Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. told jockey Garrett Gomez he would be happy to be second in Sunday's Grade 2 Vagrancy Handicap with Looky Yonder. But Gomez and the filly did one better than that, rallying along the rail in the stretch to upset odds-on favorite Dream Rush by one length in the $150,000 race at Belmont Park.

Dream Rush, making her first start since last October, tired after setting strong fractions and settled for second, 8 1/4 lengths ahead of Baroness Thatcher. Any Limit and Sangrita completed the order of finish.

The upset win by Looky Yonder assured there would be a $238,937 pick-six carryover heading into Monday's Memorial Day card at Belmont. The pick six will be on races 6 through 11 and includes the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap featuring Commentator, First Defence, and Divine Park.

Looky Yonder, a 4-year-old daughter of Johannesburg, was a late addition to the Vagrancy field when Coco Belle didn't make the cross-country trip from Southern California. After bobbling at the break, Looky Yonder trailed until the field straightened away in the stretch.

Dream Rush, who had run fractions of 22.04 seconds and 45.22 under Eibar Coa had a four-length lead in midstretch. But she shortened stride inside the sixteenth pole while Looky Yonder was coming her with sustained bid. Looky Yonder passed Dream Rush with about 20 yards to go for the victory.

"I told Garrett in the paddock to hope for second and plan on that," Dutrow said. "I didn't like the timing of the race for us. I did think we had a legitimate chance to be second or third. It worked out better than we hoped."

Looky Yonder covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.63 and returned $21.60 to win.