Jacqueline Ohrstrom’s Demonstrative demonstrated emphatically that he is ready for the summer season when he swept to a 2 1/4-length victory in the first division of a $25,000 flat race for hurdlers at Parx Racing on Sunday.
In the second division of the 1 1/4-mile turf race, Grade 3 stakes winner Bob Le Beau drew clear to a three-length score over All Together.
Demonstrative entered the Parx race from a victory in the $150,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois (Gr. 1) on May 9 and went off as the 2.30-to-1 favorite, narrowly ahead of 2.40-to-1 Alwaary, who set the pace into midstretch.
Ridden by Robbie Walsh, Demonstrative never was far back as Jack Doyle dictated a slow pace with Merriefield Farm’s Alwaary. The eight-year-old Elusive Quality trailed Alwaary by 1 1/2 lengths at the furlong pole but surged through the stretch of the suburban Philadelphia track and won going away. Alwaary finished second, 1 1/2 lengths clear of Rosbrian Farm’s Magical Moon in a field of 10. Trained by Richard Valentine, Demonstrative ran the distance in 2:48.51 on firm turf and paid $6.60 to win. His
Denied the victory on the lead, Doyle closed from well back in the early going to claim the second division with Bob Le Beau for owner The Fields Stable and trainer Elizabeth Voss. Like Demonstrative, Bob Le Beau was coming off a stakes win, in the National Hunt Cup at the Radnor Hunt Races in Malvern, Pa., on May 16.
Owner-trainer Janet Elliot’s Hiwasee Gem set the pace in the second $25,000 division, with Sheila Williams’ and Andre Brewster’s veteran All Together stalking the pace in second.
Doyle rallied Bob Le Beau on the final turn, moved past All Together in early stretch, grabbed a 1 1/2-length advantage in midstretch and widened to the finish line. Irv Naylor’s Charminster finished third in field of nine. Irish-bred Bob Le Beau paid $14.60 to win as the 6.30-to-1 fourth betting choice after running the distance in 2:43.37.