Sharp handicappers who pay close attention to the tote board no doubt made a good score at Presque Isle Downs yesterday via the maiden-breaking Stretch Runner, who more than lived up to his name with a six-furlong romp under Erin Walker.

  Based on his record coming up to the race, there was no reason to believe the 4-year-old gelding by Bahamian Squall should have been less than 25-1 on the tote board. In his past four races at Tampa Bay Downs, Stretch Runner had been beaten by 9 3/4 lengths, 17 3/4 lengths, 7 lengths and 25 1/2 lengths – 60 lengths in all. 

     The first indicator that yesterday might be different was the lone listed work he had at Presque Isle since leaving Florida – :48.40 for four furlongs in his first attempt over an all-weather surface. The more-telling clue was the first flash of the board – he was 9/5. Stretch Runner hung round the 2-1 price for several minutes, but by post time, he had inched up to 4-1. The smart money had come in early.

    When the gate opened, Stretch runner was off dead last from the No. 9 post. But his rider kept him well on the outside, and midway down the backstretch, she let him roll and Stretch runner blew by the field on the turn, took the lead heading down the lane and won by an eased-up 7 1/4 lengths, clocked in 1:10.40. 

    He became winner No. 17 for Bahamian Squall this year, and paid an inexplicable $10.20, $10.60 and $3.60 across the board. It was a highly-satisfying finish for the smart guys, a big disappointment for the rest.