Ward’s Way Computes In Distaff

Vince Ward, the self-described fastest computer salesman in horse racing, did it again Saturday night.

As he did in last week’s Inaugural Handicap, Ward mapped another patient course back to the winner’s circle in the feature at Playfair, the $6,750 Distaff Handicap.

He kept 9-1 shot Rolls Belle comfortably off the pace early, falling back to seventh in the field of eight, 7-1/2 lengths behind evenmoney favorite Weave Away. If backers of owner/trainer Bill Hobbs’ 4-year-old filly were concerned a quarter of a mile into the race, Ward was right where he had to be, waiting for the favorite to run back to him.

“The only time she (Weave Away) had ever won going three-quarters (6 furlongs), they got a bad test (urinalysis),” he said. “Other than that she’d never won going more than 5-1/2.”

Although Weave Away had enough to hold on for second, soundly beaten by 2-1/2 lengths, she’s now unplaced in eight trips at 6 furlongs.

Rolls Belle took the $3,712.50 winner’s share with only her second official lifetime win, although - unknown to much of the betting public - she’d won a recent stakes at the Western Montana Fair in Missoula.

Wins at non-recognized tracks are not listed in past performances in the Daily Racing Form. So if the public had reason to overlook this filly, Ward thought a closer like his had a shot in this second stakes race of Playfair’s 47-day meeting.

Sixth a half-mile into the race, 5-1/2 lengths off the pace, Rolls Belle rallied up to second at the eighth pole and was running by the favorite by the time they were a sixteenth of a mile out.

“I knew she’d make a little run,” Ward said. “I just couldn’t let her get out of contention. I guess she’ll drop pretty far back if you let her. I knew they’d bop right along on the front end and I couldn’t have any say (in setting the early fractions).

“But I settled in six or seven off and I was happy.”

Karen’s Tuition went out early with Weave Away but dropped off. After a steady rally Rolls Belle returned 21.80 on a $2 win ticket. The Rolls Belle-Weave Away exacta paid $77.40, a healthy return given the second half of the 1-2 finish was the overwhelming favorite.

The best may be on the horizon for this Rolls Aly filly out of the Alydar line. “I think she’ll be a little bit more at home going longer,” Ward said.

Ward, who lives in Yakima, where he works in computer sales when he’s not race riding, was aboard See Spot Bite Jane in the seventh when the 11-year-old warrior won easily going a mile.

, DataTimes