In an era where so many jockeys think that swinging their mounts four and five wide on the final turn is a formula for success, Addiel Ayala showed them yesterday that the shortest way to the finish line is on the rail.  

    Ayala was aboard Bahamian Park in a 6 1/2-furlong race on the all-weather track at Presque Isle Downs, and he sent the 5-year-old Bahamian Squall gelding away fifth on the inside. They waited patiently on the rail all the way into the stretch, where a hole big enough to drive a truck through opened, and the jockey took full advantage. Bahamian Park slipped through and beat his rivals to the wire by 2 1/4 lengths, clocked in 1:16.72, and paying $20.20, while becoming his sire’s 20th winner this year. 

    The gelding bred by Don Dizney was winning for just the second time, although not for lack of trying; he has racked up 11 seconds and three thirds. The $8,400 prize boosted his earnings to $74,348.