Ron the Greek rallies to win Stephen Foster
June 16, 2012LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Ron the Greek rallied to overtake pacesetter Nate's Mineshaft near the finish line, then held off favorite Wise Dan by a head Saturday in the $437,200 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Ron the Greek, ridden by Jose Lezcano, earned the first automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic through the ``Win and You're In'' series. It was his second Grade 1 victory this year, following the Santa Anita Handicap in March.
Trained by Bill Mott and owned by Brous Stable, Watchtel Stable and Jack T. Hammer, Ron the Greek paid $20.80, $6.40 and $5.40. Wise Dan returned $3 and 2.80, and Nate's Mineshaft paid $8 to show.
Mott also won the Grade 2 Fleur De Lis as Royal Delta, last year's champion 3-year-old filly, routed the field by 8 lengths. Centre Court won the Grade 3 Regret, and Neck `n Neck took the Grade 3 Matt Winn.