King Mesa Prevails at Fair Grounds

Lucas Downs’ King Mesa broke in stride to make or force the pace throughout in Monday’s featured $49,000 allowance affair at  Fair Grounds and prevailed by a head at the wire under strong handling by jockey Kerwin Clark, who was winning his third race of the day.

Trained by Michelle Lovell, the winner accomplished the 1 1/16-mile distance on a race taken off the grass and run on a main track rated “good” in 1:46.92 after early splits of 24.72 and 49.05. King Mesa returned $14.80, $6 and $5 and increased his career earnings to $64,803 with his fifth win in nine lifetime starts.

Rollin Fishback and Charles Logsdon’s Fist of Rage, always well placed, gained the advantage in the lane, could not stay with the winner late but was clearly second best and paid $4 and $3.

Ann and Becky Hayes and Aaron Hachida’s Lead the Way, who pressed the pace early, held the third spot at the wire while finishing 2 3/4-lengths behind Fist of Rage and returned $8.40.