INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 11, 2008) - Million Dollar Run broke her maiden while registering a 14-1 upset under jockey Joel Rosario in Sunday's $110,400 Railbird Stakes by 2¼ lengths at Hollywood Park, setting up a Pick Six carryover of $154,139 in the process.
The 3-year-old chestnut filly - second in her career bow while making her only previous start - scored the third major surprise in Sunday's Pick Six sequence while defeating previously unbeaten Lethal Heat and six other 3-year-old fillies in the Grade III event.
Owner Jeff Nielson of Stillwater, Minn., decided to enter Million Dollar Run in the seven-furlong Railbird after she turned in a series of sharp workouts. She proved she was not a "morning wonder," stalking the pace most of the way before taking command approaching the sixteenth pole and holding off a late bid by Tasha's Miracle to win in a quick 1:20.66.
"She was training just perfect," trainer Marcelo Polanco said. "Every single thing she did from the last race to this one came out perfect."
While Million Dollar Run had clear sailing in providing 23-year-old jockey Rosario with his first graded stakes win, 6-5 favorite Lethal Heat could not overcome a poor break.
"She was getting nervous in the gate," jockey Rafael Bejarano said. "There was a lot of noise and she was leaning to the right when the gate sprung and stumbled real bad. We had a nice trip, but we had to come from too far behind. I think it cost me the race."
Rosario, who came right back to win the nightcap on 6-1 shot Red Tomatoes, had a dream trip.
"Alex Solis (on Peisinoe) went to the front and I got to wait and wait," he said. "When I asked her she responded and won. That's pretty impressive, winning a stake with a maiden."
Million Dollar Run, a homebred daughter of Tejano Run, paid $31.40, $13.20 and $6 while banking $66,240 to boost her earnings to $75,840. Tasha's Miracle returned $6.40 and $3.60, while the show payoff on Lethal Heat was $2.60.
Racing resumes at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday. The Pick Six begins with the third race on the eight-race program.
