Zone Judge upsets Play the King

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Zone Judge, who was being ridden for the first time by Constant Montpellier, scored his first stakes victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $173,100 Play the King Handicap at Woodbine.

A 4-year-old colt owned by Winston Penny and trained by Dave Dwyer, Zone Judge was taken back off the early pace, swung to the outside after being blocked entering the stretch, and rallied for a two-length victory.

Zone Judge, sent off at 8-1, completed the seven furlongs of firm turf in a rapid 1:20.42, outfinishing Waltzin' Storm, the stronger half of an entry that went off as the even-money favorite. The exactor returned $62.

Gone Fishin was third, another 1 1/4 lengths back. Mr. Epperson, the defending champion in the race, finished sixth.

* Sky Chariot, a 6-year-old gelding owned by Sam-Son Farm and trained by Mark Frostad, recorded his first stakes win in Saturday's $106,000 With Approval.

Robert Landry rode Sky Chariot, who defeated stablemate Follow the Piper by 1 3/4 lengths while completing the 1 1/8 miles of turf in 1:47.30. The entry returned $5.70 as the second choice

Steady Ruckus, who had been cross-entered in the Play the King, ended a neck back in third as the even-money favorite.