Wild Hoots in blowout, again

One blowout victory led to another for Wild Hoots, who shot to the lead out of the chute and ran eight rivals off their feet, winning the the $62,800 Nellie Morse for fillies and mares by a widening 4 1/2 lengths.

Fresh off a 14-length win in a $38,000 first-level allowance race at Philadelphia Park on Dec. 28, Wild Hoots was bet down from 4-1 on the morning line to 6-5, despite being the only 4-year-old in a field older runners.

Wild Hoots ran the mile in 1:38.50 and paid $4.40.

"Moving up is always a question, but we were pretty confident," said Mario Pino, who rode Wild Hoots for the first time. "She ran a big race last time and she ran a big race today."

Art Show, 9-1, edged 19-1 bomber Take a Check by a neck for second.

Morning-line favorite Cryptoquip went off at 7-2 and finished fourth. For Kisses - with 7 wins in 11 starts at Laurel going into the race - ran a dull fifth at 3-1.

Wild Hoots, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for Dell Ridge Farm, won her maiden at Belmont Park on the grass in her fourth start last July, then went winless for three starts before her big win last month.

Pino won three races on the card to get within five wins of tying Hall of Famer Johnny Longden (6,032) on the all-time win list.