Marianne and Brandon Chase’s Here Comes Ben wore
down Hamazing Destiny in deep stretch to win the $65,386 Kelly’s Landing
for sprinters by a neck before a “Downs After Dark” crowd of 26,330 on Friday
night.
Friday’s
attendance was the largest of the three “Downs After Dark” programs and
increased the nightly average to 25,359. The final “Downs After Dark” program
of the Spring Meet will be next Friday, July 2 with a “Boots, Brew & BBQ”
patriotic/Americana theme. Two more night programs are scheduled for the Fall
Meet, opening night Oct. 31 and Nov. 19.
Longshot
Agastache led the field of seven through fractions of :23 and :45.59
with Hamazing Destiny in closest pursuit and Here Comes Ben racing in fifth
place and in the clear under Alex Solis.
Hamazing
Destiny, ridden by Miguel Mena, took over at the top of the stretch with
Here Comes Ben still in fifth place. Under Solis, Here Comes Ben gradually
closed ground on Hamazing Destiny, eventually surging to the front in the final
50 yards.
Here
Comes Ben, a 4-year-old homebred son of Street Cry, ran the seven furlongs on a
fast main track in 1:21.89. The victory, the third in three 2010 starts and
fifth in 11 career starts, was worth $40,380 and increased Here Comes Ben’s
bankroll to $204,872.
As
the favorite, Here Comes Ben returned $3.40, $2.60 and $2.20. Hamazing Destiny
paid $5.20 and $3.20 with Caixa Eletronica, ridden by Francisco
Torres, finishing another 1 ½ lengths back in third and returning $4 to
show. Completing the field in order were Booted, Agastache, Eye of
the Leopard and Posse Cat.