For Immediate Release: Saturday, June 20, 2015 215.639.9000 ext. 3290 or 3329 Contact: Keith Jones, Announcer – Philadelphia Park @ kjones@parxracing.com
A.P. INDIAN EDGES TO VICTORY IN LE VINE MEMORIAL
Green Lantern Stable’s A.P. Indian battled with rival Stallwalkin’ Dude for almost three-quarters of a mile before finally putting him away and then edged away late to win the $100,000 Donald Le Vine Memorial Handicap by two and a quarter lengths Saturday afternoon at Parx Racing. It was the second consecutive stakes win for the five year-old gelded son of Indian Charlie and pushed his career earnings to just over $200,000.
Breaking from the outside gate in the seven horse field in the seven furlong test, A.P. Indian came out quickly and got the lead in the opening sixteenth. A 22.89 opening quarter mile meant that he’d have company up front, though, as Stallwalkin’ Dude prompted the pace from the inside while Dream Saturday and Fabulous Kid pressed the leader from the outside. At the half-mile pole, Fabulous Kid fell back a bit, leaving the other three across the track heading to the far turn.
The first of those three to fall back was Dream Saturday and after a half in 45.42, A.P. Indian and Stallwalkin’ Dude began their head and head battle as they rounded the far turn together. They remained side by side until they arrived at the top of the stretch and as they turned for home, A.P. Indian had gained a slight advantage, putting his neck in front. Stallwalkin’ Dude would not surrender easily and continued to battle to mid-stretch when A.P. Indian was simply too much. He began to slowly pull away through the final furlong and came to the wire, a clear cut and hard fought winner.
Sent off as the even money favorite, A.P. Indian, trained by Arnaud Delacour and ridden by Daniel Centeno, returned mutuels of $4.00, 2.40 and 2.10. Stallwalkin’ Dude, second choice at 2-1, ran well but was clearly second best and paid 3.20 and 2.40. Fabulous Kid (10-1) was up close early, fell back about on the far turn, but closed well late, missing second by only a neck and paid 4.20 to show. The final time for the seven-eighths over a track labeled fast was 1:23.40.
