Brave Dave wins Sapling; Doubled takes Sorority

OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) - Brave Dave overcame a bad stumble at the start and won the $100,000 Sapling Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Special Jo at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

In the co-featured $100,000 Sorority, Doubled rallied along the inside and posted a 1 3/4- length win over favored I'mclassyandsassy in the stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Pace Lopez, Brave Dave ran six furlongs in the race for 2-year-old colts and geldings in 1:10 2-5 in winning his first stakes. The Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained runner paid $5.40, $3.20 and $2.20.

Special Jo returned $5.40 and $3, and Drum Roll paid $2.20 to show.

``He took a really bad stumble out of the gate, but I know this horse and how fast he is,'' Lopez said. ``He rebounded pretty quickly and was in front quickly. I was just sitting and waiting and sitting and waiting `til the quarter pole when I asked my horse. I saw the other horse (Special Jo) coming with his run and my horse responded nicely.''

With jockey Angel Arroyo in the irons, Doubled ran six furlongs in 1:11 4-5. The Cathal Lynch-trained filly paid $32.80, $6.60 and $4.20.

I'mclassyandsassy returned $2.20 and $2.10, and Back To Class paid $6.20 to show.

``You always have doubts that she can catch the filly who was so far in front, but when I saw the half went in forty-four, and with the way she closed on this track in the Colleen Stakes, I figured she would close again today,'' Lynch said. ``The further she goes, the better she is. She has a real great kick at the end.''