Donoharm’s victory delays Willy’s party

Donoharm, ridden by Clif Berry (left), edges Skyring on Friday to win The Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
Donoharm, ridden by Clif Berry (left), edges Skyring on Friday to win The Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

— Win Willy was less than a length from becoming a millionaire.

Instead, Donoharm held off Win Willy and several other challengers to win the $75,000 Fifth Season Stakes for older horses Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

Cliff Berry, Oaklawn’s leading rider the past two years, guided Donoharm to a neck victory over Skyring.

Win Willy, the 2011 Fifth Season winner, finished just a half-length farther back in third after a hugging the rail turning for home and through the stretch.

Win Willy’s $7,500 check leaves him with $967,887 in career earnings.

“He tried really hard,” said Alex Cintron, who rode Win Willy. “He came right up the rail and got bumped a little at the quarter pole, but it wasn’t enough to cost him the race.”

Win Willy finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Master Rick, who was followed, in order, by Eye of the Leopard, Double Rah Rah, It Happened Again, 7-5 favorite Endorsement and Stachys.

Double Rah Rah is owned by Bob and Val Yagos of Jacksonville and is trained by Jinks Fires of Hot Springs.

Donoharm earned $45,000 for his victory and paid $29, $11.40 and $5.80. Skyring paid $8.40 and $5.20. Win Willy paid $3.80.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for Donoharm, who captured the $70,000 Sam’s Town Stakes on Nov. 17 at Delta Downs in Louisiana in his last start.

A 4-year-old Lemon Drop Kid gelding, Donoharm races for Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch and is trained by Bret Calhoun.

A forward factor from the start, Donoharm covered 1 1/16 miles over a good but tiring surface in 1:49.07.

“You had to kind of keep him together,” Berry said. “Every pole, I’m thinking, he’s going to get tired. But he just kept running.”

Donoharm has a 5-2-3 record from 14 lifetime starts and earnings of $182,080.

Sports, Pages 25 on 01/12/2013

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