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Eccentric scores in Fayette Gary Tanaka's ECCENTRIC (GB) (Most Welcome [GB]) ran near the back for much of Saturday's $150,000 Fayette S. (G3) on Keeneland's closing day, but was in front when it really mattered -- at the wire. With jockey Eddie Castro holding the reins, the five-year-old gelding saved ground on the inside early and was forced to steady a bit behind Southern Africa (Cape Town) in the final quarter. It didn't stop the chestnut from going on to post a three-quarter of a length victory as the 8-1 fifth choice. The Roger Attfield-trained Eccentric paid $18.20, $10.80 and $7.20 for stopping the clock in 1:49 on the Polytrack. "We got him midway through the summer. He was actually a very good Polytrack horse in England," assistant trainer Rachel Halden said. "He's actually won seven (races) on the Polytrack over there. Mr. Tanaka was kind enough to send him out to Roger in Canada and now we've got the Polytrack up there (at Woodbine)." Ball Four (Grand Slam) led from soon after the start, setting fractions of :24 3/5, :49 1/5, 1:13 3/5 and 1:37 2/5, but couldn't hold off the winner late, giving back $6.40 and $4.80 as the 5-1 third pick. Good Reward (Storm Cat) followed by another 1 1/2 lengths, returning $3.60 as the 3-1 second favorite and holding 5-2 favorite A. P. Arrow (A.P. Indy) to fourth by 1 1/2 lengths. The exotics were worth $157.40 (exacta), $590 (trifecta) and $1,756.40 (1-4-5-7 superfecta). Host (Tabasco Cat) was a head back from fourth and followed by Scipion (A.P. Indy), Kid Grindstone (Grindstone), Student Council (Kingmambo), Wayzata Bay (Roar), Southern Africa, Alumni Hall (A.P. Indy) and Go Now (Go for Gin). Andromeda's Hero (Fusaichi Pegasus) was withdrawn. Eccentric was making his U.S. debut in this spot, and now sports a 32-10-5-2 mark to go along with $526,915 in lifetime earnings. Overseas, the chestnut scored in last year's Winter Hill S. (Eng-G3) and Winter Derby S., and made his 2006 debut a third in the Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (UAE-G3). Bred by A. S. Reid in Great Britain, Eccentric is out of the winning Sure Care (Caerleon).
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