Twilight eclipses his elders in McKnight

Twilight Eclipse, a three-year-old Purim gelding making only his sixth career

start, registered an 11-1 upset of Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000

W.L.

McKnight Handicap at Calder. His stalk-and-pounce rally under Manoel Cruz

resulted in a 1 3/4-length triumph in a time of 2:26 3/5 for 1 1/2 miles on the

firm turf.

Ioya Bigtime, the 3-2 favorite, led comfortably through splits of :25 1/5,

:48 4/5, 1:13, 1:37 3/5 and 2:02 3/5. Twilight Eclipse, who rated in second

passing the stands the first time and third in the second run down the backside,

was poised to make a bid when only 1 1/2 lengths behind that rival approaching

the quarter pole. Although Ioya Bigtime initially appeared to have run left,

Twilight Eclipse easily swooped past in the stretch and drew off to a convincing

win for owner West Point Thoroughbreds. Twilight Eclipse paid $24.80, $12.40 and

$4.60.

Outsiders filled out the trifecta as Mucho Mas Macho, the 39-1 longest shot

on the board, made a bold rally late to finish second, three parts of a length

ahead of 11-1 chance Vertiformer. Ioya Bigtime retreated to fourth and was

followed by 2010 McKnight winner Prince Will I Am, Manchurian High and Center

Divider. Forte Dei Marmi, the 8-5 second choice, trailed the field after making

an early move around the third and final turn.