WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Malibu Prayer wins Churchill feature by a length

Malibu Prayer wins Churchill feature by a length

LOUISVILLE, KY (AP) - Malibu Prayer collared favored One Caroline on the far turn and then held off a late charge by Copper State to win the $167,550 Chilukki for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs by a length.

Ridden by Chris DeCarlo, Malibu Prayer gave trainer Todd Pletcher his second consecutive victory in the Chilukki. Malibu Prayer covered the mile on a "fast" main track in 1:36.24.

The victory was worth $99,626 and increased Malibu Prayer's earnings to $348,526 with her fourth victory in nine starts.

Malibu Prayer, owned by Edward Evans, returned $12.20, $6.20 and $3.80. Copper State paid $15 and $6.60 with One Caroline paying $2.60 to show.

Payton d'Oro, who finished fifth in the field of 9, represented the final starter for trainer Larry Jones, who is turning the training of his 23-horse stable over to his wife Cindy.

The 53-year-old native of Hopkinsville began training in 1982 and is best known as the conditioner of 2008 Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)