Wide rally propels She'sonthewarpath to victory in Tom Benson Memorial

She’sonthewarpath got a perfect trip to win the Albert Stall Memorial Stakes on Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds. She didn’t need one to capture the $100,000 Tom Benson Memorial on Saturday.

Rallying wide, over worse footing than along inside paths on the Fair Grounds grass course, She’sonthewarpath and Chantal Sutherland got up by a nose over Altea, who closed closer to the fence under Joel Rosario and came out on the wrong side of a tight photo finish.

Steve Margolis trains She’sonthwarpath for her breeders, Robert and Lawana Low, and Sutherland, who began riding the 4-year-old filly when she won a maiden race last winter at Fair Grounds, has proven an adept partner. Sutherland slipped niftily up the fence to help She’sonthewarpath win the Stall, but Saturday, after saving ground for the first three-quarters of the two-turn turf race for older fillies and mares, she wheeled outside as She’sonthewarpath ran down the lead pack.

Altea, who raced from farther behind the pace, dove inside and pushed a tiring Desert Ride toward the rail as she geared up for a final push, coming between horses and just falling short of victory for trainer Chad Brown. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the potential foul of Desert Ride but let the result stand.

Notapradaprice finished third and Winning Envelope was fourth s co-favored Dream Passage faded off the board. Dream Passage went after the early lead from post 1 but was outrun by Fullness of Life, who faded in upper stretch, just as She’sonthewarpath kicked into gear.

She’sonthewarpath, a surprisingly short $9.40 winner, is by Declaration of War out of Ha Ha Tonka, by Distorted Humor. She was timed in 1:42.23 for 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf course while winning for the fifth time in 11 starts.

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Monte the man in Costa Rising

Monte Man finished second by a neck in the 2019 Costa Rising Stakes but went one place better this year, winning the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for Louisiana-breds by one length over 45-1 shot Grand Luwegee.

Monte Man, who paid $7.20 as the 5-2 favorite, tracked pacesetting Letithappencarlos, who drew in from the also-eligible list and managed to cross the field from his wide draw and lead until midstretch. Monte Man overhauled the front-runner past the furlong grounds and had plenty left to hold clear late-running Grand Luwegee, with Yankee Seven checking in third.

Trained by Ron Faucheux for Ivery Sisters Racing and ridden to victory by Adam Beschizza, Monte Man won for the 14th time in 39 starts. The 7-year-old gelding is by Custom for Carlos by Sarah’s Angel, out of Sutter’s Prospect.