Thorondor, the 3-5 favorite in Friday's seventh race, fought off a challenge from Jack's Wild and a late threat from Soul Candy to win an optional claimer for state-breds by a neck.
Thorondor stalked the pace before taking the lead in the stretch. Jack's Wild drew even, and may have even briefly lead, before Thorondor was roused by jockey Tyler Baze to lead for good in deep stretch. Thorondor ($3.20) ran 1 1-16 miles on turf in 1:41.88. Soul Candy held second, a head in front of Jack's Wild in the field of six.
Thorondor won for the first time this year.
"He did relax and then he relaxed too much," winning trainer Darrell Vienna said. Tyler "had to gear him up to get by that horse. It looked like he got headed but he came back."
Thorondor has won 2 of 6 starts, and has not been worse than third in three races this year. Vienna said Thorondor will be considered for a first condition allowance race in coming weeks.
Thorondor was the lowest price winner of the program, and Baze's second winner on the eight-race card.
In the eighth race, Koolnquick was scratched at post time when the gelding did not cooperate for a shoe repair. Koolnquick was 7-1 when he was withdrawn.
