Spark O’Dan Closes Fast, Wins River City Stakes

Spark O’Dan made a last-minute charge and emerged from the pack in the stretch for a three-quarter-length victory Sunday in the $85,275 River City Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Spark O’Dan, ridden by Joe Johnson, covered 1 1/8 miles on the turf in 1:50 4-5, a stakes and meet best, and paid $34.80, $19.80 and $10. Exclusive Greer returned $31.60 and $13.20, and Air Worthy, half a length back, paid $5.60 to show.

The victory, Spark O’Dan’s fourth in nine starts this year, was worth $55,428 to owner William Greene and boosted the horse’s lifetime earnings to $97,498.

At Miami, Prince Randi, the 8-5 favorite, drew away from Mr. Adorable in the final sixteenth to win the $44,300 Pembroke Pines Breeders’ Cup Handicap for 3-year-olds on the grass Sunday at Calder Race Course.