Northern Wolf Scores Upset, Safely Kept Fourth at Pimlico
BALTIMORE — Northern Wolf, a Maryland-bred outsider, upset Safely Kept Saturday to win the inaugural running of the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Pimlico Race Course.
The four-year-old roan colt covered the six furlongs in a track record 1:09, to win the $350,000 race named for the former owner of Pimlico and Laurel, who died exactly one year ago.
Safely Kept, a four-year filly unbeaten in five starts this season, dueled with second choice Sunny Blossom down the backstretch. But both favorites faded and finished fourth and sixth respectively. This was the first time Safely Kept had faced males since the Breeders Cup Sprint last November, her last loss.
Northern Wolf passed the leaders at the top of the stretch and drew away to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Glitterman. Sewickley, who broke from the gate badly, rallied to take third. He trailed Glitterman by 1 1/2 lengths.
Northern Wolf paid $15.00, 7.60 and 4.80. Glitterman returned $14.40 and 6.80, ande Sewickley paid $5 to show.
Patrick Valenzuela, who was scheduled to ride Sunny Blossom, called in sick Saturday and was replaced by Edgar Prado.
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