The Very One: 88-1 bomb connects on turf

Gabianna, the longest shot on the board at 88-1, relished a rain-soaked course and scored an improbable win in the $75,000 for female turf sprinters.

The 5-year-old Gabianna ($179.80) had won just twice in 21 previous starts, was fifth in a starter-allowance race in her lone previous start this year, and had finished 2004 with three poor efforts when entered for claiming prices ranging from $7,500 to $12,500. She was winless at Pimlico, and winless on turf. Her trainer, Jorge Prado - her third trainer since November - was winless in 20 starts this year. But despite all those discouraging signs, Gabianna prevailed by wearing down pacesetter Nicole's Dream and then holding off a late surge from Feisty Bull.

Nicole's Dream, who had won the Mamzelle Stakes at Churchill Downs two weeks earlier, flew out of the gate and set fractions of 22.61 and 46.79 for the first half-mile of the five-furlong race. But the conditions sapped her, and she faded late.

Gabianna won by a neck over Feisty Bull, with Nicole's Dream another half-length back in third. Miss Victory, the 2-1 favorite, finished eighth in the field of 11.

Horacio Karamanos rode Gabianna, who completed five furlongs on a course rated soft in 59.69 seconds. A daughter of Deerhound, Gabianna is owned by Vision Realty Stables.