NEW KENT, Va. -- Charle's Quest stormed past Mercedes Son in deep stretch, then caught front-running Chilito at the wire to win the $25,000 first-race feature yesterday at Colonial Downs.

Charle's Quest, a 5-year-old gelding with Mark Johnston aboard, was last in the six-horse field at the top of the stretch, but angled out between foes in mid-stretch, eased by Mercedes Son and edged Chilito by a neck in a photo finish.

The victory was the first in five starts this year for Charle's Quest, who ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1: 47 4/5 and paid $10.80, $3 and $2.60. Chilito paid $2.20 and $2.60, and Mercedes Son returned $3.

Top Maryland jockey Edgar Prado guided Chilito, who last competed in the Belmont Stakes on June 6, finishing a game sixth, and went off as the 2-5 favorite yesterday.

Pub Date: 9/11/98