Two Months Rent edges Film Shot in thrilling Hawthorne Derby

20-1 shot Two Months Rent rallied fast inside the final furlong to post a surprising upset in the $200,000 Hawthorne Derby (gr. III) this afternoon at Hawthorne race course, edging out Film Shot to win the nine-furlong turf race by a head.

Ridden to victory by Jesus Castanon, Two Months Rent settled back into seventh place early on as Finale, All Stormy, and All Squared Away led the way through moderate fractions of :23.83 and :48.71 seconds. Film Shot, Pleasant Closing, and Francois were also fairly close to the pace, with Two Months Rent about three lengths behind them. Control Tower, Quick Wit, North of Never, Lea, and Aldous Snow were the trailers.

Finale continued to lead the way through three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.75 and turned for home still in front, but Film Shot soon presented a strong challenge and took command of the advantage just past the eighth pole. He briefly opened up a sizable advantage, but Two Months Rent was rallying fast on the far outside, and his momentum carried him to a narrow victory. The final time over a soft course was 1:52.58 seconds.

Lea rallied belatedly to finish third, 3 3/4 lengths behinds the top two. Control Tower, North of Never, Finale, Francois, Aldous Snow, Quick Wit, All Stormy, Pleasant Closing, and All Squared Away completed the order of finish.

The winner, a three-year-old gelded son of Purim out of the Sharpen Up mare Sharp Tradition, is trained by James Toner and owned by AJ Suited Racing Stable.

-Keelerman

Optimizer sprints home in Kent Stakes

After competing in all three Triple Crown races without success, Optimizer has finally found his niche as a front-running turf horse, and the son of English Channel used those tactics with success to pick up his first graded stakes victory this afternoon in the $200,000 Kent Stakes (gr. III) at Delaware Park.

Ridden to victory by Jon Court, Optimizer got off to an excellent start at the beginning of the nine-furlong race and sprinted away to grab the early lead while pressured by Excaper. Coming out of the chute and rounding the first turn, Court allowed Excaper to take over a half-length advantage while keeping Optimizer along the rail in a good position. Star Channel was their closest pursuer, racing about two lengths behind, with Cozzetti and Miami Cat next in line. Favored Lucky Chappy was on the far outside in the sixth position, followed then by Corinthian's Jewel, Two Months Rent, Unbroken, and Twilight Eclipse.

Through testing fractions of :22 3/5, :46 4/5, and 1:10 3/5, Excaper and Optimizer continued to show the way, and coming off the final turn, Optimizer kicked away from his rival to seize command of the lead. Star Channel briefly loomed a menace on the outside, but flattened out in the stretch, leaving Optimizer to coast home a decisive five-length winner in the good time of 1:47 1/5.

Excaper held on to finish second over Two Months Rent, while Star Channel rounded out the superfecta. Twilight Eclipse, Unbroken, Lucky Chappy, Cozzetti, Miami Cat, and Corinthian's Jewel completed the order of finish.

A son of English Channel out of the A.P. Indy mare Indy Pick, Optimizer is owned by Bluegrass Hall LLC and trained by D. Wayne Lukas. The colt has now compiled a record of 3-2-1 from 16 starts with earnings of $428,714.

-Keelerman

Virginia Derby Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $600,000 Virginia Derby (gr. II), to be run on Saturday at Colonial Downs. The ten-furlong turf race for three-year-old colts has drawn a spectacular field of nine, including Silver Max, who has won five straight races; Summer Front, who is unbeaten on turf; Optimizer, a tough-as-nails son of turf star English Channel; and Lucky Chappy, a very talented Irish-bred making his first start since finishing seventh in the UAE Derby (UAE-II).

1 Optimizer
2 Finnegans Wake
3 Two Months Rent
4 Coach Royal
5 Summer Front
6 Easy Crossing
7 Silver Max
8 Lucky Chappy
9 Mr. Handsome

-Keelerman