Long On Value surprises in Twilight Derby

Owned by Wachtel Stable and George Kerr, the Bill Mott trainee returned $25.

Sawyer's Hill, a 9-1 chance, outlasted another 9-1 shot, Divine Oath, by a

neck for second. Following Divine Oath was Flamboyant, Talco, 8-5 favorite Ring

Weekend, Patriots Rule, Enterprising, Sammy Mandeville, Yard Line, and Crushed

It. Ashleyluvssugar was scratched.

This was the fourth career stakes win for Long On Value, who captured the

restricted $50,000 Jamestown at Colonial Downs on the turf for trainer Don

Roberson, and the $50,250 Strike Your Colors at Delaware Park on dirt for

trainer Randy Allen last season.

Mott, who took over training duties after the Strike Your Colors, preceded

this victory with a 1 3/4-length score in the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby at

Canterbury over a mile. Earlier this year, the bay placed in the Arlington Classic, the

Manila at Belmont Park, and Fred "Cappy" Capossela at Aqueduct. His record now

stands at 13-5-2-1, $418,388.

"I was doubtful (about getting the mile and an eighth), but we gave him a

chance thinking the turf was firm and maybe we'd have a little more pace than

what we'd had," Mott said. "We liked the match up with Rosie (Napravnik), who's

very patient, and I think she did a great job with him. A good ride made a big

difference.

"I just asked her (Napravnik) to be as patient as possible, to wait as long

as she could. They started to force her hand a little bit around the turn and

she got him running and it worked out."

A son of Value Plus, Long On Value brought a mere $3,000 as a Fasig-Tipton

Midlantic September yearling. He was reared by Long Message, an Orientate

half-sister to multiple stakes winner Long Distance.

Long On Value was bred in Virginia by Snow Lantern Thoroughbreds.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com