Connect scores upset

Late-developing 3-year-old Connect ($23.20) held off Gun Runner to win the $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby on Saturday at Parx Racing, leaving Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and Preakness winner Exaggerator in the dust. Even-money favorite Nyquist challenged off the far turn before fading to sixth while Exaggerator never threatened and finished seventh. Connect, a son of Curlin who won the Curlin Stakes on July 29 at Saratoga Race Course, but finished well back in the Travers, bounced back Saturday under jockey Javier Castellano.

Connect sat inside off the fast pace set by Awesome Slew and Rebel Stakes winner Cupid, with Nyquist in close pursuit. The leaders faded when the field of 12 3-year-olds pulled into the stretch, with Gun Runner, third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, going five wide under Florent Geroux while Connect, trained by Chad Brown, took the inside path. Wild About Deb, at 62-1, got up for third, 4 lengths behind the top two. Time for the 11/8 miles was 1:50.20.