Duke beats Scully in matchup of horses named for Dodgers legends

LOS ANGELES -- A horse named for Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully lost by two lengths to Duke of Flatbush in an equine matchup of baseball legends at Penn National Race Course.

Duke of Flatbush was the nickname of Duke Snider, who starred in center field for the Brooklyn and later Los Angeles Dodgers from 1947 to '62. Scully joined the Dodgers in 1950 in Brooklyn and like Snider moved west with the team when it relocated.

Scully has followed the horse since learning it was named for him.

Scully the gelding has one win in 14 career starts, having begun his career at Santa Anita outside Los Angeles. His human namesake has fared considerably better. The 87-year-old Scully is in baseball's Hall of Fame and is in his 66th year with the Dodgers.

Duke of Flatbush has two wins in eight career starts.

The $11,400 claiming race was Thursday at the track near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.