There are a slew of “from last to first” race calls made around the country every week, but no run from last place has been as impressive as the one Roan Mountain achieved in the fourth race at Parx on Tuesday. 

    The 6-year-old First Dude gelding bred by Don Dizney broke eighth and last in a $40,000 claiming race at a mile and 70 yards, and he was a good 16 lengths behind the leaders heading down the backstretch. But Trevor McCarthy got the big gray rolling coming to the turn, and Roan Mountain, without leaving the inside, shot through at the top of the stretch to take the lead, then held off one late challenger to win by a neck.

    It was Roan Mountain’s third victory of the year and boosted his career record to 8-10-12 in 47 starts. He paid a surprising $19.40 and the check for $21,000 raised his ever-growing bank account to $269,285, moving him into 16th place on First Dude’s $200,000 list.