Canon Man Strikes at Fair Grounds

B/L Racing Stable and Michelle Lovell’s Canon Man set the pace in Monday’s featured $53,000 allowance optional claiming sprint over the Stall-Wilson turf course at Fair Grounds, lost the advantage briefly at the furlong marker but came again to be best by a head at the wire.

Trained by Michelle Lovell and ridden by Kerwin Clark, Canon Man accomplished the about 5 1/2-furlongs over the grass rated “good” in 1:05 flat after establishing early fractions of 22.79 and 46.97, increased his career earnings to $150,900 with his fifth win in 10 lifetime starts and returned mutuels of $18.40, $10 and $5.60.

Brent Gasaway and Ian Yarnot’s Future Covenant pressed the pace of the winner, took command briefly at the furlong grounds, could not sustain that bid while easily second best, finishing four lengths to the good of Avalon Farms’ Barracuda Bay.

Future Covenant paid $7.20 and $5.20 in the runner-up spot, while Barracuda Bay returned $10.60 to show.

Racing resumes Friday at Fair Grounds with the fourth and final Starlight Racing program of the 2010-2011 season, featuring nine races and a special late first race post time of 5 p.m.