Vote Early by a neck in Weekend Delight

Capitalizing on a blazing pace in Saturday's $72,000 Weekend Delight Stakes at Turfway Park, Vote Early launched a sweeping wide rally and outkicked a game Rated Fiesty through the stretch to win by a neck.

Well handled by jockey Otto Thorwarth, Vote Early found herself in a perfect position early, sitting in fifth, without a rival near her, as Pola's Place set demanding fractions of 21.54 seconds and 44.22 in the six-furlong race over Polytrack. Then as the leader began to tire, and Rated Fiesty, who had chased the pace in second early, moved to the front, Vote Early kicked into gear and rallied to take command late.

She raced six furlongs in 1:10.18, paying $30.80.

"Middle to outside horses were doing good today and there was enough speed in the race," said winning trainer Steve Margolis. "So even though she was in the two-hole I told Otto if he could stay in the middle and make a run, it would be our best bet."

The plan worked to perfection, resulting in Vote Early, a 5-year-old daughter of More Than Ready, picking up her first stakes victory in 18 starts for owners Richard, Bert, and Elaine Klein.

Steve Asmussen, trainer of Rated Fiesty, the 9-5 favorite, was pleased with her race, her first start since January. "She's usually the one out front setting that pace, but she ran well," he said.

Natalicat rallied for third, passing Pola's Place, but never threatened the top two.

Grade 1 winner Golden Doc A., the morning line favorite, was scratched, along with My Favorite Tune.