You're to Blame catches War Story in Greenwood Cup

You're to Blame kept front-running favorite War Story in his sights early and then outfought him late to score a neck victory in the 1 1/2-mile Greenwood Cup, the first of two stakes at Parx Racing on Monday.

When the gates opened, War Story shot to the front and opened a sizable lead in the Grade 3, $200,000 marathon while being kept well out from the inner rail by jockey Kendrick Carmouche. You're to Blame moved closer to War Story while coming down the stretch the first time through fractions of 25.21 and 51.12.

Jockey Paco Lopez sent You're to Blame up inside War Story, who remained well out in the track, after a mile in 1:42.67. The two alternated on the lead from there, with You're to Blame proving the strongest along the rail in the final sixteenth of a mile.

Big Dollar Bill, who never got within earshot of the top two, finished third, 3 3/4 lengths behind War Story, the 3-5 favorite.

You're to Blame paid $10.40 as the third choice in the group of seven. He was timed in 2:32.40.

The Greenwood Cup, named for the group that operates Parx, is the first stakes win for You're to Blame, a 4-year-old son of Distorted Humor who is trained by Todd Pletcher. You're to Blame came into the Greenwood Cup off a Saratoga victory in a high-level optional-claiming race at 1 1/8 miles, which equaled the longest distance at which he had raced prior to Monday.

You're to Blame is now 5 for 18 in his career.

Hard Study, also trained by Pletcher, weakened to finish fifth at 7-2. He moved up outside You're to Blame on the backstretch but could not keep pace in the final half-mile.