Southern Style wins Friday feature

Maynard Chatters Jr.’s Southern Style, allowed to settle early, rallied outside the leaders when set down for the drive and won Friday’s $29,000 optional claiming sprint at Fair Grounds by two and a quarter lengths.

The winner, ridden by Wilfredo Lozano Jr., returned mutuels of $5.80, $3.80 and $2.80, toured the five and a half furlong distance of the race taken off the grass and run over sloppy main track going in 1:03.99 and increased his career earnings to $155,020 with his seventh victory in 17 lifetime starts.

Deborah Isaac’s Tenkiller Lane, unhurried early, rallied widest of all in the late stages under leading rider James Graham to be clearly second best by a length and a half to pay mutuels of $3.80 and $3.

Stonestreet Stables’ Heavenly Chorus, void of early foot, closed late to gain the third spot returning $3 to show.

Gold Square’s Garifine made the pace with splits of 22.34 and 45.71 before weakening to fourth at the wire.

Racing resumes Saturday at Fair Grounds with an 11-race program with a first post of 12:40 p.m.