Gravesend

Danny A. Limongelli's BANJO PICKER (Swear By Dixie) overcame a stretch-long

duel and an inquiry to shock the field in taking the $112,000

Gravesend H. (G3)

at Aqueduct on Sunday. Trained by Steve Krebs, the gelding broke sharply and led

the field through splits of :22, :45 1/5 and :57 2/5 before finishing up six

furlongs on the fast track in 1:10 under Tara Hemmings. As the 47-1 longest shot

in the field, Banjo Picker returned $96, $45.60 and $21.40

Pioneer Empire (Pioneering) fought gamely with the winner throughout the lane

but came up short on the bob at the wire, settling for the place a head back.

The 45-1 shot was worth $33.40 and $18.20 while completing the healthy $1,234

exacta. Saay Mi Name (Not For Love) closed strongly along the rail but could not

pass the top pair, settling for the show another neck behind. The chestnut

returned $7.80 at 7-1 and was on the bottom of the $7,239 trifecta.

Super Fuse (Lite the Fuse) was a closing fourth, completing the 1-2-5-9

superfecta which paid $12,810, and was trailed by Introspect (In

Case), Acclimate (Forestry), Spooky Mulder (Brunswick), Exciting Metro (Carson

City), Presidentialaffair (Not For Love) and 9-5 choice Smokume (Smoke Glacken).

Clever Electrician (Clever Trick) was withdrawn.

Banjo Picker moved his lifetime mark to 25-8-4-3 with earnings of $241,374.

The bay five-year-old took the Lyman Sprint Championship H. earlier this year

and also owns placings in the Devil's Honor H. and Vincent Moscarelli Memorial H.

The winner was bred in Pennsylvania by Elizabeth R. Houghton and was

produced from the winning Sean's Gold (U. S. Flag). Banjo Picker counts a 2005

filly named Silhouette Island (Patton) as a half-sister.