Mervin H. Muniz

RAPID PROOF (Fast Play) entered Saturday's $500,000

Mervin H. Muniz Jr.

Memorial H. (G2) at Fair Grounds owning only one stakes win, and that came three

years ago. It was not surprising, therefore, for the Dolphus Morrison homebred

to be sent off the 31-1 eighth choice in the 11-horse field. The surprise came

at the end of the firm turf test when Rapid Proof stuck his head in front at the

wire to take the about nine-furlong race over his more well-regarded rivals.

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. was content to settle his mount in sixth along the

inside as Doctorate (GB) (Dr Fong) carved out fractions of :24 1/5 and :49 2/5,

all the while tracked on the outside by G P Fleet (Northern Afleet). The latter

moved up to take over through six furlongs in 1:13 4/5 but suddenly found the

rest of the field catching up entering the second turn. He couldn't hold on as

A to the Z (Benchmark) got the mile in 1:38 3/5, and the 2-1 second choice

appeared likely to take home the winner's trophy. However, nobody saw Rapid Proof until

it was too late, as Hernandez sent him in between rivals to just catch the top

two duelers at the wire.

Rapid Proof rewarded his backers with payouts of $65.20, $16.20 and $9.40. A

to the Z gave back $4.20 and $3 for holding America Alive (American Chance), who paid $5.40 at

10-1, to third by a nose. The exacta returned $255.60, the trifecta $1,335.80

and the 3-10-7-9 superfecta, with Honor in War (Lord at War [Arg]) coming in

another 1 1/2 lengths back in fourth, was worth a nice $12,674.80. Next under

the line were 9-5 favorite Burning Sun (Danzig), Social King (King of Kings

[Ire]), G P Fleet, Candid Glen (El Gran Senor), Seinne (Chi) (Hussonet),

Doctorate and Demeteor (Dehere).

Rapid Proof more than doubled his earnings with the $300,000 winner's check

to $549,703 and improved his career line to 23-4-5-6. His only other stakes

score came in the 2002 Hopemont S. at Keeneland, but the dark bay gelding has

placed in four other black-type events, including the Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup

H. prior to Saturday's win.

The Kentucky-bred five-year-old is out of the winning Alleged mare Hard

Evidence, making him a half-brother to an unnamed yearling filly by

Johannesburg.