NATIONAL ROUNDUP : Applebred Charges Late, Wins at Aqueduct

Applebred caught favored Fifteen Gold Stars in the stretch and held on for a half-length victory Saturday in the $117,200 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes for 2-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York.

Ridden by Jean-Luc Samyn and carrying 113 pounds, Applebred covered the 1 1-16th mile in 1:48 over a fast track to earn $70,320 for Fox Ridge Farm. In winning for the second time in 11 starts, Applebred returned $16.60, $3.60 and $2.20. Fifteen Gold Stars, with Jose Santos up, returned $2.20 and $2.10. Skate’s Honor, ridden by Jerry Bailey, was third in the nine-horse field and paid $2.40.

Record-setting jockey Kent Desormeaux registered his 581st victory of the year when Smart ‘n Quick won the 20th edition of the $75,000 All Brandy Handicap at Laurel Race Course in Laurel, Md.

Smart ‘n Quick, the 116-pound top-weight in a field of six Maryland-bred fillies and mares, was clocked in 1:52 2-5 for a mile and one-eighth to finish one length ahead of favored Under Oath.

Misty Ivor, seeking her fifth stakes win at Laurel this year, was another length back in third.

Smart ‘n Quick paid $5.60, $2.80 and $2.10, and earned $45,000 for owner John B. Merryman of Sparks, Md.

Under Oath returned $2.60 and $2.10; Misty Ivor $2.20. The 4-6 exacta was worth $15.

Avenging Force posted a wire-to-wire victory in the $55,600 Determine Handicap at Bay Meadows in San Mateo.

Ridden by Roberto Gonzalez, Avenging Force paid $15.40, $9.20 and $5.60 in the 1 1-16 mile race for three-year-olds.

Saratoga Lad, with Tom Chapman aboard, made a strong run down the stretch to take second over Courageous Pirate and returned $10 and $5.20.