Horse Racing Roundup : Wise Times Sits Back, Rallies to Win Haskell

Wise Times, an 11-1 shot ridden by 17-year-old Chris DeCarlo, waited out a speed duel between Danzig Connection and Broad Brush Saturday, then came from next to last to win the $300,000 Haskell Invitational in the rain at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

Wise Times, carrying 114 pounds, covered the 1 1/8-mile course in the Grade I handicap for 3-year-olds in 1:48 3/5 to win by 1 lengths over Personal Flag.

It was the horse’s fourth victory in 10 starts this year.

Belmont Stakes winner Danzig Connection, the 5-2 second choice and the co-high weight with Broad Brush at 123 pounds, held on for third, a nose behind Personal Flag. Broad Brush faded to fifth.

It was the first stakes win for DeCarlo, who lost his apprentice bug Thursday, and the first Grade I win for Wise Times.

Wise Times, who ran ninth in the Kentucky Derby, was the only horse in the field with experience on Monmouth’s dirt track and the only horse equipped with mud caulks.

Wise Times paid $24.60, $11.60 and $5.20. Personal Flag returned $8 and $5. Danzig Connection paid $4.

Wise Times was 15 lengths back after a half-mile. He moved up to third on the final turn and took the lead with 70 yards to go.

Longshot Southern Sultan, giving jockey Robbie Davis his third winner of the day, took command at the top of the stretch and drew off to a 10-length victory in the $239,100 Sword Dancer Handicap at Belmont Park in New York.

It was the first victory in seven starts this year for the 4-year-old son of Stage Door Johnny. He covered the 1 1/2-mile turf course, made soft by a rainstorm, in 2:39 4/5. He carried 109 pounds.

Talakeno ran second and returned $5.40 and $3.60, while Tri For Size paid $7.20.

Danger’s Hour, the favorite of the crowd of 18,055, finished last in the field of eight.

Dancing Brave, an American-bred colt, avenged his Epsom Derby defeat to Shahrastani by winning the $260,750 King George IV and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot, England.

Ridden by Pat Eddery, Dancing Brave easily beat the American-bred Epsom and Irish Derby winner Shahrastani, who ran fourth. Shahrastani was sent off as the 11-10 favorite for the 1 1/2-mile race.

Shardari, a 14-1 shot ridden by American Steve Cauthen, finished second, three-quarters of a length behind Dancing Brave.

Gourami scored his sixth consecutive victory by winning the $250,000 Cornhusker Handicap by 2 1/2 lengths at Ak-Sar-Ben race track in Omaha, Neb.

The victory was Gourami’s third in a row in Omaha, coming after wins in the Board of Governors and Hall of Fame stakes. Gourami, owned by Berry Gordy’s Vistas Stables in Los Angeles, was ridden by Tim Doocy.

Gourami covered the nine furlongs in 1:49 3-5, and paid $8.80, $4.40 and $3.20. Honor Medal came on to finish second ahead of tiring Smile.

Gate Dancer, the winner of the 1985 Cornhusker, was forced scratched because of a heel injury.

Buddy Gilmour won his second million-dollar race in a week, guiding Cullin Hanover to a fast-closing victory in the $1.56-million Woodrow Wilson Pace at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J.

The race was the highlight of the richest night in harness racing, a 12-race card with total purses in excess of $5.5 million.

Cullin Hanover paced the mile in 1:54 4/5, and won $780,750. It was Gilmour’s second big win in a week. He drove Laughs to victory in the $1.025-million Meadowlands Pace last Friday.