Beverly Park Caps 2022 With 15th Victory of Year

The winningest horse of 2022, Built Wright Stables' Beverly Park , ended the year with yet another victory, scoring for the 15th time on the season in a $22,330 starter optional claimer Dec. 31 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Always well in hand for Marcelino Pedroza Jr., the 5-year-old Munnings   horse drew away at the top of the stretch after he had been hustled to the lead from his inside post and won geared down with 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.22 over a sealed, good track. He paid $3.80 to win.

"What an iron horse! Beverly Park," track announcer John Dooley said in describing the action. "Thirty starts this year with now 15 wins. A New Year's Eve toast to Beverly Park."

Bred in Kentucky by Ray Hanson and George Gilbert out of the Langfuhr mare Madeira Park, Beverly Park won the 25th time Saturday from 47 career starts, with many of those victories coming for current owner-trainer Norman "Lynn" Cash, who claimed him in August 2021 for $12,500 at Belterra Park. No horse has started more than he has in 2022.

In describing how Beverly Park has been so successful, Cash, alongside his wife in the Fair Grounds winner's circle, told track television host Joe Kristufek, "The condition that he's eligible for helps."

"He has a great personality," he added. "He's happy. He bounces to the track, he bounces back. He's just as sound as any horse has been."