LAUREL -- High Degree surged between tiring rivals and drew off to a 1 1/2 -length victory in yesterday's Laurel Race Course feature.

A Fur Piece led early in the $24,000 allowance race before I'm Wild overtook him in the early stretch. Then, High Degree rallied between those two before easily finishing clear of a belated bid from Seven Salutes.

The winner completed 6 1/2 furlongs in 1 minute, 17 3/5 seconds on a track that was rated fast throughout the 10-race program despite intermittent rain.

Mike Luzzi rode High Degree, a 4-year-old son of Tank's Prospect, giving him a tie with Edgar Prado atop the Laurel jockey standings. Through 57 days, each has ridden 73 winners.

NOTES: After dark days today and tomorrow, Laurel resumes with an 11-race program on Thursday. Scratch time for the Thursday program is 7 o'clock on the morning of the races.