Buck Moon Wins Wednesday’s Featured Poplar Grove Purse

Carolyn Wilson’s Buck Moon turned back a bid from favored Stage Raider at the top of the stretch and posted a 1½-length victory in Wednesday’s $120,000 featured Poplar Grove Purse for 4-year-olds and up. (Click here for a video of the race.) 

Trained by Larry Rivelli and ridden by Gerardo Corrales, Buck Moon covered the mile and a sixteenth on a fast main track in 1:44.05. 

Buck Moon went right to the lead at the start with Stage Raider tracking in second. On the far turn, Stage Raider drew closer only to have Buck Moon kick clear again. 

A Keeneland sales graduate, Buck Moon is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Malibu Moon out of the Two Punch mare Grand Pauline. With his third victory in nine starts, Buck Moon boosted his career earnings to $177,466 with Wednesday’s $70,680 check. 

Buck Moon returned $26.80, $9.40 and $7.20. Stage Raider, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $4.20 and $4 with Laughing Boy paying $6.60 to show under Brian Hernandez Jr. 

Racing continues Thursday with a nine-race program beginning at 1 p.m. ET.