Icarian's dash surprises in Herat Stakes

He pays $59.80 to win

Hades 2nd, `Country' 3rd

Long-shot Icarian came motoring from far back yesterday, reaching the front in time to catch pacesetter Hades and win the seventh running of the $50,000-added Herat Stakes for 3-year-olds at Laurel Park by a neck.

Icarian, a gelded son of Smarten who was bred by his owner, Bonsal White, completed the 1 1/16th-mile distance in 1: 45 1/5 over a fast main track. His surprise victory rewarded his backers with a $59.80 win mutuel. Hades held onto second and Country Signature was third. The 10-5 exacta returned $235. The 10-5-8 trifecta lit up the board at $1,551.80.

Jozbin Santana has ridden Icarian in all of his starts. The pair has recorded three wins in seven tries and banked just over $60,000. The was Icarian's first added-money victory.

Santana said: "There was a lot of speed in the race, so I liked my chances on paper. My horse likes to drop back. Usually, they have to come back to us a little for my horse to get there, but he was moving well at the end."

Pub Date: 2/27/00