Irish Actor, a Field Horse, Scores Upset Win in Young America Stakes

Irish Actor, a member of a 4-horse mutuel field, made a move from far back, took the lead in the stretch and drew out to a 1 1/2-length victory in the $500,000 Young America Stakes at the Meadowlands Thursday night.

Irish Actor covered the 1 1/16 mile event for 2-year-olds in 1:44 4/5 in giving jockey Eddie Maple his fourth victory in the 12-year history of this Grade I stakes. The LeRoy Jolley-trained son of Bold Forbes paid $32.20, $10 and $4.20 in winning for the third time in seven starts.

It was a remarkable turnaround for Irish Actor, who in his last start finished third in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont, about 19 lengths behind Easy Goer, the leading candidate for 2-year-old of the year.

The owners of Easy Goer decided to skip this race to prepare for the Breeders Cup on Nov. 5.

Six horses were in contention entering the stretch with Leading Prospect and Texian engaged in a duel on the lead with Maple and Irish Actor closing on the outside.

Maple and Irish Actor went right past the leaders, and they were never threatened as The Boss, another longshot, closed for second, edging Revive, another longshot, by a neck.