8 Mzo. USA. Mervin Muniz Jr Memorial H. G2. Fair Grounds. 9f. Turf. 500.000 $
1.- PROUDINSKY (G.Gomez)
2.- FRENCH BERET (J.Graham)
3.- DAYTONA (A.Solis)


When Proudinsky closed with a rush to finish second by a nose in the 2006 Arlington Classic, he looked like a comer among North American grass horses. He had been imported from Germany for that race, and it seemed obvious he could run, but it has taken many months for Proudinsky to really follow through on that Arlington teaser.

He did so Saturday at Fair Grounds, scoring the best win of his career in the $500,000 Mervin Muniz Handicap.

Proudinsky ($9.60), ridden for the first time by Garrett Gomez, wore down the pacesetting favorite Daytona to win by one length. French Beret caught Daytona at the wire for second, with Fracas rallying from last to finish fourth, more than two lengths behind Daytona.

The Gary Tanaka-owned Proudinsky was trained by Mario Hofer when he raced in the Arlington Classic, and Hofer was listed as trainer when Proudinsky came back just two weeks later in the Virginia Derby. Proudinsky finished an even fifth that afternoon, and has raced for trainer Bobby Frankel ever since.

Proudinsky won the Bay Meadows Derby in his first start for Frankel, but didn't start again for almost a year. All three starts after his return were solid, and in the Grade 2 Muniz, he turned the tables on Daytona, who had beaten Proudinsky by three-quarters of a length in the San Gabriel Handicap late last year.

The difference Saturday might have come from two sources. First, Proudinsky was kept well within striking range of Daytona, who led through fractions of 24.06 seconds for his opening quarter, 49.00 for the half, and 1:13.03 for three quarters.

Secondly, the Fair Grounds course was labeled yielding for the Muniz; Daytona showed past success over firm California carpets, but Proudinsky was proven over off going.

Asked for his best by Gomez at about the three-sixteenths pole, Proudinsky looked like a winner at the furlong pole, and pushed past for a solid victory, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.44.