One Pretty Penny Scores at Fair Grounds

William Gilmore’s One Pretty Penny, reserved behind the early leaders, came outside those to launch a bid in the stretch and wore down James Alexander’s Call  late to be best by three-quarters of a length in Friday’s featured $51,000 South Mississippi Owners/Breeders Stakes at Fair Grounds.

The winner, ridden by Miguel Mena and trained by Ray Sibille, toured the six furlongs over the sloppy Crescent City oval in 1:12.85, increased his career earnings to $67,320 with his second victory in seven lifetime starts and returned mutuels of $16.80, $5.40 and $3.

Call, who made the pace with early splits of 22.38 and 46.80, could not withstand the winner in the last strides but gamely held the place, finishing three-quarters of a length to the good of Pop-A-Top’s favored Red Hot Maria.

Call paid $3.40 and $2.60 and Red Hot Maria returned $2.60 in the show spot.

Racing resumes Saturday at Fair Grounds with an 11-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m. and co-featuring the 54th running of Fair Grounds’ tradition-rich $60,000 Black Gold Stakes for 3-year-olds as well as the inaugural running of the $60,000 Tiffany Lass Stakes at six furlongs for 3-year-old fillies.