ROUNDUP : Jovial Beats Lil E. Tee; Best Pal Third

Jovial, ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, caught heavily favored Lil E. Tee in the final 100 yards to win the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap by a length Saturday .

Jovial, carrying 117 pounds, was the third choice in the field of 10 older horses even though he had defeated Best Pal, the second choice, in their last two meetings. Lil E. Tee, ridden by Pat Day and carrying 123 pounds, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Best Pal, who was ridden by Kent Desormeaux and also carried 123.

Jovial, owned by Bruce Jackson and John Swift and trained by Jackson, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48 3/5. He returned $9.80, $3.80, and $3.20. Lil E. Tee paid $3 and $2.60, while Best Pal returned $3.60.

Jovial, a 6-year-old son of Northern Jove, had won only six of 18 starts when Jackson added a tongue tie on Jan. 1. Jovial won an allowance race at Santa Anita by 4 1/2 lengths and then won the San Pasqual Handicap there by almost three lengths. He was fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap, beaten by less than two lengths.

Early in Saturday’s race, Jovial was last in the field of 10. He was still ninth after six furlongs.

“I told Eddie I’d like to see him up very close, not on the lead, but close,” said Jackson, who owns 75% of Jovial. “He came back and asked me if I was nervous.”

What does the tongue tie do for Jovial?

“I’ve got no idea,” Jackson said. “This is an inexact science.”

Forever Whirl held off favorite Bull Inthe Heather, winner of the Florida Derby, to win the $200,000 Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah.

Forever Whirl, ridden by Abdiel Toribio, ran 1 1/8 miles in a very slow 1:51 1/5 and paid $16.80, $5.40 and $3.60. Bull Inthe Heather paid $2.60 and $2.40, while Pride Prevails returned $4.40.

The Florida-bred son of Island Whirl took the early lead and opened a six-length margin at the half-mile pole.

By the eighth pole, Bull Inthe Heather had moved into second, four lengths off the lead. Pride Prevails, coming from last place, surged on the outside to challenge Bull Inthe Heather for second.

Denmars Dream nearly broke through the starting gate and briefly unseated Alex Solis before settling down for a front-running victory in the $250,00 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

Denmars Dream covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 4/5 and returned $10.60, $7.60 and $5.40. Monogamous paid $10.80 and $5.20. Star Of The Eagle returned $3.80. Favored Offshore Pirate, who stumbled at the start, finished sixth.

Denmars Dream will bypass the Kentucky Derby in favor of the Illinois Derby on May 8, trainer Ian Jory said.