Offlee Wild captures Suburban Handicap

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - Offlee Wild, ridden by Edgar Prado, held off

 Tap Day and Pollard's Vision to win Saturday's $500,000 Suburban Handicap at

 Belmont Park. The time for the 1 1/4 miles was 2:00.50.

Offlee Wild registered his second win of the year in four starts, and it was his

 fourth victory in the last six races. The five-year-old made amends for a sixth

place finish in his last start in the Pimlico Special. In that race Offlee Wild was

the 2-1 favorite, but finished 23 lengths behind Eddington.

In the Suburban Handicap, lightly raced Record Buster jumped out to the lead

and led by as many as six lengths up the backstretch. Heading into the final turn

 Record Buster began to tire and easily gave up the lead.

Around the turn for home Offlee Wild and Pollard's Vision moved to the front

and were one-two at the top of the stretch. Down the stretch Offlee Wild moved

passed Pollard's Vision to the lead and held off the late running Tap Day.

Offlee Wild hit the wire 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Tap Day with Pollard's Vision third.

Sir Shackleton finished fourth in the eight horse field.

Former Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide had another

disappointing performance. Under new jockey Jerry Bailey, Funny Cide never

got involved in the running of the race and finished sixth, 20 lengths off the winner.

Offlee Wild is owned by AZ Azalea Stables and trained by Juan Rodriguez.

Regular trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. is serving a suspension. Offlee Wild added

$300,000 to his bankroll which now totals $968,825.

Offlee Wild returned $9.20, $4.80 and $3.60. Tap Day paid $18.80 and $7.40,

 and Pollard's Vision paid $2.80 for show.