Gaff got back to his winning ways on Friday (Pam DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's GAFF (Maria's Mon) charged from off the pace to land Friday's $169,050 Aegon Turf Sprint S. (G3) on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs. John Velazquez allowed the bay to lope in third or fourth in the early going, several lengths astern of Unbridled Sidney (Unbridled's Song) and Chief What It Is (Crafty Prospector) as they dueled through splits of :21 4/5 and :45. Gaff surged into contention in the stretch, mowed down the exhausted front runners and strode across the line 1 1/4 lengths clear. The Steve Asmussen-trained winner stopped the teletimer in :56 4/5 on the yielding turf, paying $9.60, $5 and $3.60 as the 7-2 second choice.

Ellwood and Jake (Mr. Greeley) finished well for runner-up honors in his stakes debut, but he pulled up lame while galloping out and had to be vanned back to his barn for X-rays. The 5-1 third choice returned $5.80 and $3.80. Congo King (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) checked in another three-quarters of a length back to yield $5 at 6-1. The exacta was worth $55.40, the trifecta $360.20, and with the 7-1 Roi Charmant (Evansville Slew) getting up for fourth, the 6-7-1-8 superfecta totaled $1,973. The Nth Degree (Distorted Humor) tired to fifth after stalking the pace, trailed by Unbridled Sidney, Chief What It Is and Sgt. Bert (Confide). Mighty Beau (Rainbow Prospect), Junior College (Ide), Chosen Chief (Marquetry) and Lifestyle (Indian Charlie) were withdrawn.

Gaff now sports a mark of 20-7-1-3 with $494,818 in earnings. The five-year-old claims four prior stakes victories -- the 2004 El Gran Senor S. at Fairyhouse in Ireland, the 2006 Mr. Prospector H. (G3) and Bonapaw S., as well as the Taylor's Special H. in February. Gaff's resume includes three stakes placings, a pair of Irish Group 3 events and the Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint H. (G3) last May.