SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) - Heavily favored Quality Road drew away in the stretch and cruised to a 4 3/4-length victory in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Quality Road, a 3-10 favorite ridden by John Velazquez, ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 and earned $450,000 for owner Edward P. Evans.

Quality Road paid $2.60, $2.10 and $2.10. Runner-up Mythical Power returned $5.90 and $4.40 and Tranquil Manner earned $4.60 to show.

The Woodward was Quality Road's fourth win in five starts this season, third in a Grade 1 race, and follows a narrow defeat at the hands of Blame, who was not in the Woodward's field of seven, in the Whitney Invitational at Saratoga on Aug. 7.

``This is the race we expected,'' Pletcher said. ``He's proven before he's a top class horse and he proved it again today. It went exactly like we talked about in the paddock. I have total confidence in John if he needed to call an audible, he's always got that backing from me. But it's nice when Plan A works.''

Earlier at Saratoga, Here Comes Ben and rider Alex Solis rallied in the stretch and overtook Big Drama in the closing strides to score an upset in the $250,000 Forego Stakes and earn $150,000 for owners Marianne and Brandon Chase.

The Charles Lopresti-trained 4-year-old ran 7 furlongs in 1:22.50 for his first Grade 1 victory. He paid $21.80, $8.50 and $3.70. Big Drama earned $6.70 and $3.30 and Vineyard Haven returned $2.20 to show.