For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 215.639.9000 ext. 3290 or 3329 Contact: Keith Jones, Announcer – Philadelphia Park @ kjones@parxracing.com

SOMALI LEMONADE’S LATE SURGE WINS DOC PENNY MEMORIAL Dubai World Cup & Kentucky Derby Winning Jock Wins Another

Caroline Forgason’s Somali Lemonade, under a perfect ride from red hot jockey Joel Rosario, rallied from mid-pack and then gamely out finished rival Miz Ida through the final sixteenth of a mile to capture the Grade 3 $250,000 Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap by a half-length Tuesday afternoon at Parx Racing. The win broke a long losing streak for the now four year-old Lemon Drop Kid filly that had not seen the winner’s circle since her two year-old year.

It was no surprise that Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith took the advantage early aboard the 6-5 race favorite Pianist as it clearly looked as if she were the controlling speed in the six horse field. Quickly to the front and unchallenged, they went the opening quarter over the yielding course in 25.32 and turned the half in :51.10. Rosario broke from the next to outside gate but neatly got his mount over to the rail in the opening furlong and sat about three lengths behind the leader. Heading onto the backstretch, that margin increased to about five as Pianist opened up slightly with five furlongs remaining.

Somali Lemonade quickly got into the bit, however, as Rosario took her three wide for the run to the far turn and steadily closed the gap to a length and a half with three-eighths to go. The pressure was mounting on Pianist as the field rounded the far turn. Longshot Dinner’s Out, who had been sitting second, was gaining and late running Miz Ida had also made a big move and while four wide, was even with the leaders at the top of the stretch. Coming to the final furlong, Pianist and Dinner’s Out gave way and the battle was joined between Somali Lemonade and Miz Ida. The went head to head until inside the sixteenth pole when Somali Lemonade proved the stronger horse, edging away in the final yards to win by a hard fought half-length.

Overlooked a bit in the wagering, perhaps because of the long losing streak, Somali Lemonade went off at a price of 6-1 and paid $15.40, 6.20, and 3.20. Miz Ida (7-2) ran a big race but was simply second best and paid 4.60 and 2.80. Pianist won a show photo over last year’s runner up Hessonite and paid 2.20 to show. The final time for the one mile and one-sixteenth was 1:47.83.

Joel Rosario certainly appears the early leader for Eclipse honors at season’s end. The big wins just keep coming for the rider who turned the unusual double this spring, winning the Dubai World Cup on Animal Kingdom and the Kentucky Derby on Orb.