Pumpkin Rumble rallied through traffic and made a dramatic late surge to prevail in Saturday's $100,000 Mystic Lake Mile at Canterbury Park. Pumpkin Rumble was ridden by Corey Lanerie, who guided Kitty Wine to victory in the day's other stakes, the $100,000 Lady Canterbury.
Pumpkin Rumble ($21.40) got the best of a three-way photo involving 2-1 favorite Az Ridge and Red Zeus. Az Ridge wound up second, a nose behind Pumpkin Rumble and a nose ahead of Red Zeus. Az Ridge had a clear lead in the stretch before succumbing in the final strides.
Pumpkin Rumble passed all eight of his rivals in the stretch of the Mystic Lake Mile, which was for 3-year-olds and up. He stopped the clock in 1:35.89 for about a mile over a firm turf course. Trained by Gary Scherer, Pumpkin Rumble had been unraced since Feb. 7.
The victory was the first in a stakes for Pumpkin Rumble, a 4-year-old English Channel gelding. He collected $60,000 for locally based owners Al and Bill Ulwelling.
Kitty Wine comes through
The 7-5 favorite Kitty Wine stalked pacesetter Parc Monceau before edging clear under Lanerie for a 1 1/4-length win in the Lady Canterbury Stakes at about a mile on the turf.
Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Kitty Wine made the trek from Churchill Downs and garnered her first stakes win. Notte d'Oro closed stoutly for second, a half-length ahead of 37-1 longshot Julie Darlin, who finished third in the field of seven fillies and mares.
Kitty Wine covered the distance in 1:36.97 and earned $60,000 for owners Stone Farm and Joseph W. Sutton, who also bred the 6-year-old Lemon Drop Kid mare.