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.