Photo: CDI
Keith Plaisance’s favored
Wash Park commenced a rally in mid-stretch outside the leaders and was up to be best by three-quarters of a length in Friday’s
Starlight Racing feature at Fair Grounds.
As the headline event during the fifth of six
such Starlight Racing programs in New Orleans
this winter, Friday’s allowance and $62,500 optional entering event was
contested at six furlongs and offered a purse of $53,000.
As the choice of the fans on hand,
Wash
Park paid $5.20, $3.20 and $2.10 and accomplished the three-quarters of a mile in 1:09.45. The 5-year-old
Ecton
Park gelding increased his career earnings to $133,864 with his sixth lifetime win in 13 career starts.
Gary and Mary West’s
Safe Trip pressed the early
pace, took command briefly at the furlong grounds, could not withstand
the winner late but proved clearly second best by two lengths, paying $3
and $2.40.
Dan Lynch, Ken Sentel and Merrill Scherer’s
Santo Gato made the pace
with splits of 22.42 and 45.42 but weakened against the top two in
mid-stretch, returning $2.80 for the show position.