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Benny the Bull mows down Talent Search in De Francis Although his designated rabbit may not have played his role as originally envisioned, BENNY THE BULL (Lucky Lionel) still roared from off the pace to defeat the free-wheeling Talent Search (Catienus) in Saturday's $250,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash S. (G1). Piloted by Edgar Prado, the Richard Dutrow charge reeled off six furlongs in 1:09 4/5 on the fast track at Laurel Park to notch his first graded stakes victory. Talent Search rocketed from the gate and opened up two lengths on the field while blazing his first quarter in :22 3/5. Benny the Bull's entrymate, Holly Time (Gilded Time), wasn't able to apply any pressure to the front runner from a toiling third, but High Finance (Talk Is Money) tried to just that when approaching the half-mile in :45 3/5. Neither could live with the raw speed of Talent Search, however, and the would-be pace-prompters dropped tamely away. Meanwhile, Benny the Bull had kicked into high gear, circling most of the field on the turn, and set his sights on Talent Search in the stretch. By this point, the dark bay had built up an irresistible momentum and blew past the longtime leader by 1 1/4 lengths. Dispatched as the 6-5 favorite, Benny the Bull paid $4.60, $2.40 and $2.10. "Sometimes I have to ride him very hard, but today I didn't," noted Prado, who returned to his old Maryland stomping grounds to win four races on Saturday's Fall Festival of Racing card. "He did it all on his own. I encouraged my horse, but I didn't really beat him up. I saved something for the end." The 9-5 Talent Search finished a clear second by 2 1/2 lengths, giving back $3 and $2.10. "Talent Search had his ears pricked," his regular rider Ryan Fogelsonger said. "Turning for home, I tapped him on the shoulder and he had two more gears. For a horse to come by us like that is incredible. Galloping out, I asked Edgar how he went by me like that because I was rolling. It is amazing a horse could come by us." Miraculous Miss (Mr. Greeley), the only filly in the eight-horse field, rallied from dead last for third. The 6-1 shot rewarded her loyalists with $2.20. The exotics totaled $12.80 (exacta), $38.20 (trifecta) and $152.80 (1-2-6-4 superfecta) with the 19-1 Will He Shine (Silver Deputy) in fourth. Saint Anddan (A.P. Indy) came next, trailed by High Finance, Hi Time Scott (Regal Humor) and Holly Time. Benny the Bull has now bankrolled $468,550 from his 13-5-1-2 line. After his score in the June 30 Iowa Sprint H. at Prairie Meadows for owner Greg James, an interest in the four-year-old was acquired by IEAH Stables, Pegasus Holding Group Stables and A.I. Cohen, and he was switched to Dutrow. Since then, Benny the Bull was a valiant runner-up to presumptive sprint champion Midnight Lute (Real Quiet) in the Forego S. (G1). He has also posted a pair of fourths in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2) and Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) last time out. Bred in Florida by Tomoka Farms, Benny the Bull was purchased by James for $38,000 at the 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The first foal from stakes heroine Comet Cat (Birdonthewire), he has an unnamed yearling half-brother by Broken Vow. James revealed the origin of Benny the Bull's name. "My daughter Erika named him after a cartoon character on 'Dora the Explorer,'" he said.
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