Champs Finish Strong As Playfair Season Ends

Champion jockey Jason Eads and leading trainer Bruce Wagar showed they know how to finish off a horse racing season Monday at Playfair Race Course.

The track’s 1995 titlists teamed up to win the $4,000 Twin Willows Purse with heavily favored Mantis as Playfair completed its 59th season. Eads, who already had won both ends of the daily double, notched his 89th winner as Mantis overhauled pacesetting Pop Star Mackee in the final 100 yards.

Runner-up in the Spokane Derby, Mantis gave Wagar his 30th triumph of the season and wrapped up his second conditioning title.

Mantis ran the Playfair Course of about 6-1/2 furlongs in 1 minute, 20 seconds over a muddy track and paid $3.20 to win. Rain fell throughout the program.

Unofficial figures show total attendance of 132,468 for an average of 2,759 per day. Wagering totaled $22,352,496 for an average of $465,677.

, DataTimes