V.E. Day wins Curlin at Saratoga Race Course

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) V.E. Day won in his stakes debut to give jockey Jose Lezcano his 2,000th victory, rallying from last to edge Charge Now by a head Friday in the $100,000 Curlin at Saratoga Race Course.

Trailing the field of nine 3-year-olds into the far turn, V.E. Day swung to the far outside down the stretch and outfinished Charge Now. The winner ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.51.

V.E. Day paid $18.20, $7.10 and $4.70. Charge Now returned $7.70 and $5.20, and Protonico paid $3.80 to show.

Trained by Jimmy Jerkens for owner Magalen O. Bryant, V.E. Day had made three of his four lifetime starts on grass. He broke his maiden May 10, going a mile on a sloppy, sealed track at Belmont Park in a race that was rained off the turf course.