Last month Tim Hopkins called me and asked me what I thought about horse number 4 running in Laurel's sixth race.

I thought enough about him on paper that we collared Southern Twister and made barn 8 his new home. It didn't take long for the 5-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic to start paying his way.

Due to the weather, Friday's card was canceled and moved to Saturday. Harry Vega's last win for me was on Pipeline back in 2006. Pipeline is now an event horse, living out a well-deserved retirement from the rigors of the racetrack, while Vega is still plying his trade on the Maryland oval. Harry had ridden Southern Twisher in his last five starts for his previous connections and after talking it over with Tim we decided to give Harry the return ride for us. After breaking from post position 4, Harry was quick to take the big bay back to last rounding the clubhouse turn. Slowly moving up down the backside he had only one horse beaten at the half-mile pole. While making a four-wide move around the far turn he was closing on Morning Theft.

It was a horse race all the way to the wire. Tim kept yelling, "He's got it. He's got it." I kept thinking, I must be looking at the wrong horse because I didn't think, "He's got it." I was thinking, "Hold on for second. Hold on for second." Morning Theft looked like he was going to hang on while Bank Of Dad was really closing.

Tim was right. Southern Twister kept grinding to the wire to catch Morning Theft and hold off Bank Of Dad.

Southern Twister made it one-for-one this week and seven on the year.

Hopefully next week more of our entries will actually make the program and weather permitting, run.