Larry Fugate’s Cash Rules, away from the winner’s circle since posting consecutive victories in the fall of 2010, held off the late challenge of Shivananda Racing’s Ducduc to win the $55,000 Sumter Stakes at Calder Casino & Race Course Saturday, covering the one mile and 70-yard distance over a fast track in 1:43.17.
“I just looked at the last time he won with jockey Eibar Coa,” winning rider Luis Saez said. “Coa had him second early in that race, so I did the same thing.”
After tracking the early leader Hear Ye Hear Ye through opening splits of :24.14 and :48.75, Cash Rules inherited the lead from the tiring defending race champion through three quarters in 1:12.90. From there the son of Peace Rules opened up a clear lead on his rivals before holding off Ducduc in the final yards to prevail by 1 ½ lengths.
“Coming into the stretch, my horse just responded perfect,” Saez added. “He wasn’t tired; he didn’t wait for anybody. He just went on and run.”
Trained by Dave Fawkes, Cash Rules was a popular winner, returning $6.00, $3.60, and $3.00 for the victory. Ducduc paid $5.20 and $3.20 for second. It was two lengths back to Dream Maestro, who paid $4.00 for third.
Numb Lips, Atoned, Hear Ye Hear Ye, Matty’s Trail, and Tannersville completed the order of finish.
With his Sumter Stakes victory, Cash Rules is now a four-time winner from nine starts, with earnings of $108,096. The gelding was bred in Florida by Fugate, Marshall Novak, and Suzanne Novak.
