Wooden Ya Know It wins action-filled Labor Day at Columbus

COLUMBUS, Neb. - Wooden Ya Know It battled on the lead throughout and drew off for a 3 1/4-length win, then survived a claim of foul in an eventful renewal of the $10,750 Labor Day Stakes at Columbus on Monday afternoon.

Wooden Ya Know It worked his way to the lead in the opening furlong of the 6 1/2-furlong race for older horses while angling in from his outside post. Tenth Power, the 4-5 favorite, saw his opening close as the field bunched going into the first of two turns and dropped back into a stalking position. As Wooden Ya Know It and First Class Brass battled it out on the lead, The Nutz also joined the fray from along the inside.

First Class Brass gained the lead late in the far turn, then drifted in shortly after entering the stretch and forced The Nutz to clip heels and nearly fall leaving the furlong marker. Wooden Ya Know It, remaining outside the trouble, continued on strongly to draw off for the win under Jake Olesiak. Don't Bluff rallied from last to take second and First Class Brass was third across the finish line. After two claims of foul involving both the first turn and the stretch run, First Class Brass was disqualified from third and placed last for coming in through the stretch to impede The Nutz.

Wooden Ya Know it returned $13.40 as the third choice in the field of seven for trainer Jerry Gourneau. With 18-1 shot Don't Bluff in second, the pair combined for a 6-5 exacta worth $150.20. Tenth Power, elevated to third after the disualification, completed a trifecta worth $283.60. Wooden Ya Know It covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:20 over a fast track to gain his fifth win of the year.