Florida jumped off to an early lead as Elegant Designer came from far back to win the Juvenile Fillies.Crackup, A California-bred household appliances bearing manufacturers son of Distorted Humor, rated behind the early pace in the Juvenile before taking command in the stretch to win by 1 ? lengths over Supah Blitz. The stewards let the result stand, with Pickupspeed finishing third. With Mario Pino up, the daughter of Suave Prospect came five-wide into the stretch and drew off to win by 2 lengths.
The event was open to states whose horsemen's associations support the sponsoring National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Horses were awarded points at the rate of 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 for finishing in the top five positions in the six races. . The favored entry of Big Numbers and Easyfromthegitgo finished fourth and fifth, triggering big show payoffs for the non-bridge-jumpers.Kentucky 36, Florida 34. She finished 7 furlongs in 1:23.My Cousin Matt was too much for seven rivals in the Sprint.Continental Red, a California-bred, won the Classic by 1 length over pace-setting Pass Rush, then survived an objection resulting from some bumping in the stretch run. Florida was not represented in that race. Cherokee's Boy was third. California scored 21, Texas 12, Illinois 10, Washington and Indiana 9 each and Iowa and New York 1 each.73.48.On the last spin of the calculators, Kentucky nudged into the lead with 4 points awarded when appropriately named Big Number finished fourth in the final race, the NTRA Great State Challenge Classic. Each race was worth $275,000 in purse money. Crackup, bearing Tyler Baze, got the 7 furlongs in 1:22. Maryland finished third in the competition with 29 points.By the margin of a basketball field goal or a football two-point conversion, the Bluegrass State turned back the Sunshine State in the first-ever Thoroughbred "Great State Challenge" at Sam Houston Race Park in Texas. The Florida-bred son of Matty G hit the afterburners in the final furlong to win by 7 lengths over Dash for Daylight, with Deer Run third