New York-Breds at the Races: March 3 to 6 By Bill Heller
Awesome Gent Wins Open Stakes Debut with Authority Sunday
Making both his open-company and stakes debut Sunday at Aqueduct, Burning Sands Stable’s New York-bred homebred Awesome Gent powered to a four-length victory, his third straight, under Manuel Franco in the 32nd running of the six-furlong $125,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes for three-year-olds. Sent off at 7-2 odds in the field of six, Awesome Gent won in a final time of 1:10.60.
Todd Pletcher trains Awesome Gent, a son of Awesome Again out of Pawnee Patti by Sir Richard Lewis. Pletcher gave Awesome Gent a 3 ½-month freshening after he finished a distant eighth under John Velasquez as the 2-1 favorite in a maiden special weight at Saratoga on September 5th. He hasn’t lost since under Franco.
In his second start on December 19th at Aqueduct, Awesome Gent aired by 8 ½ lengths on the front end as the 7-5 favorite. He stepped up to allowance company on January 15th and won from just off the early pace by 6 ¼ lengths as the 2-5 favorite.
Awesome Gent went off the fourth choice Sunday. His uncoupled stablemate in the Pletcher barn, Repole Stable’s New York-bred homebred Sudden Surprise, went off the 2-1 favorite under Jose Ortiz, who was looking for his fourth victory of the afternoon in the fifth race on the program.
Breaking from the rail under Aaron Gryder, Moon Over a Beauty, who was adding blinkers and went off at 15-1 odds, went for the lead immediately on the inside of Sudden Surprise from the two post. Franco got Awesome Gent away well in third.
Moon Over a Beauty led Sudden Surprise by a head through a fast opening quarter of :22.17. He maintained that slim advantage around the far turn as Awesome Gent went up three-wide to join the two pacesetters.
After a demanding half-mile in :45.64, Awesome Gent swept to the lead. Awesome Gent opened a two-length advantage in mid-stretch and poured it on, winning impressively. Quijote, sent off at 3-1 odds under Kendrick Carmouche, finished second, a length ahead of 5-1 King Kranz and Cornelio Velasquez. Condo King, who went off at odds of 3-1 under Irad Ortiz, Jr., finished fourth, another 2 ½ lengths back.
“When I saw the two horses fighting on the lead, I decided to sit and wait until the quarter pole to make my move,” Franco said. “He responded really good. He’s a really nice one.”
Awesome Gent is now three for four with earnings of more than $140,000. ****************************************************
Rallying from dead last, Saul and Max Kupferberg’s homebred five-year-old gelding Repent Twice surged past favored Thirst for Glory to capture a mile-and-a-sixteenth $57,000 New York-bred allowance by 3 ¼ lengths, giving jockey Jose Ortiz his fifth winner on his final mount Sunday. To get it, he had to run down his brother, Irad Ortiz, Jr., the pilot of Thirst for Glory who was looking for his third winner of the afternoon. Repent Twice went off at 3-1 odds and Thirst for Glory was sent off at odds of 2-1 in the field of nine.
Repent Twice, who was nosed in his previous start, is a son of Repent out of Double Edge by Double Negative who is trained by John Parisella.
Apprentice Eric Cancel sent 21-1 Lyrical Miracle to the early lead. Pressed by 15-1 New York Chrome and Angel Arroyo, Lyrical Miracle hit the quarter-mile in :24.14 and the half in :48.43. Thirst for Glory, who had been alternating in fourth and fifth, made a four-wide sweep around the far turn. Behind him, Repent Twice was rallying.
After three-quarters in 1:13.04, Thirst for Glory took over as Repent Twice stormed into second. Repent Twice flew past Thirst for Glory and won going away. Thirst for Glory was a clear second, 6 ½ lengths ahead of 12-1 Prophet’s Cat and Taylor Rice. Lyrical Miracle was just another neck back in fourth.
Repent Twice improved his record to four for 15 with five seconds, two thirds and earnings of more than $130,000.
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Flawlessly ridden by Jose Ortiz, Island Whirl Racing’s four-year-old New York-bred filly Moondance Joy inhaled dueling pacesetters Chickaletta and Ducasa to win a six-furlong $35,000 conditional $25,000 claimer by 4 ¾ lengths. Sent off at 5-1 odds as the only New York- bred in a field of just five, Moondance Joy won in a final time of 1:13.01.
Chris Englehart trains Moondance Joy, a daughter of Catienus out of Sydney’s Lexington by Outofthebox who sold for $150,000 as a two-year-old in April 2014.
Island Whirl Racing claimed Moondance Joy for $25,000 when she finished fourth by six lengths under apprentice rider Eric Cancel on January 17th. In her first start for her new connections on February 12th, she finished fourth by six lengths again in a $35,000 claimer with Kendrick Carmouche riding. Englehart dropped her and changed jockeys Sunday.
Departing from the two post, Moondance Joy settled in third as 3-1 Chickaletta, ridden by Manuel Franco, and Ducasa, the 3-5 favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr., disputed the lead. Chickaletta led Ducasa by three-quarters of a length after a quarter in :24.22 before Ducasa bid for the lead around the far turn. Ducasa took a narrow lead over Chickaletta after a half-mile in :48.26. Jose Ortiz swung Moondance Joy out three-wide behind them, and she blew by both of them to win handily. Ducasa saved second and Chickaletta finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Ducasa.
Moondance Joy is now two for 11 on dirt with three thirds. She also has a win and a second from six grass starts, for total earnings of more than $125,000.
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Mende Racing Stable’s four-year-old filly Bubbe Zena, bred by Mendean Jonath Inc., struck the lead in mid-stretch under Manuel Franco and then held off Lil Renegade to win Sunday’s finale, a six-furlong$31,000 New York-bred maiden $25,000 claimer, by a length in a final time of 1:14.62. Bubbe Zena was sent off at 4-1 odds from the outside post in a field of eight, and Lil Renegade was the 6-5 favorite under Aaron Gryder.
David Donk trains Bubbe Zena, a daughter of Corinthian out of White Slippers by Silver Deputy who had finished third in her previous start.
Bubbe Zena was far back early as 61-1 longshot She Is My Hero set the pace from the rail. She Is My Hero led by a length and a half through a :23.41 first quarter and by a length after a half- mile in :47.81. Then 9-1 Double Mane and Jackie Davis, who had rallied from fourth on the rail, got through on the inside of She Is My Hero to take the lead in mid-stretch. But Bubbe Zena was closing in on the outside and Lil Renegade finally found her best stride. Bubbe Zena took over and held the favorite off.
Lil Renegade finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Double Mane in third. There was a gap of 2 ¼ lengths back to 3-1 Mary’s in Utopia in fourth.
Bubbe Zena is now one for nine with three thirds and earnings topping $30,000.
Little Popsie Wins His Third Straight Saturday at Aqueduct
Southwest Capital Racing’s four-year-old colt Little Popsie raced to the early lead under Jose Ortiz and never had an anxious moment, easily posting his third straight victory Saturday at Aqueduct. Sent off the 5-2 favorite in the field of nine, Little Popsie won a six-furlong $59,000 New York-bred allowance/optional $40,000 claimer by 4 ¾ lengths in a final time of 1:11.01.
JND Stable, James Taylor, Deborah Bolstad and Fox Ridge Farm bred Little Popsie, a son of Spring At Last out of Cercis by Forty Niner who sold for $210,000 as a two-year-old in April 2014 and is trained by Bruce Levine.
Little Popsie began his winning streak in an open conditional $40,000 claimer, winning coast-to- coast by five lengths at 10-1 odds under Manuel Franco on December 19th. A little more than a month later, Little Popsie again won wire-to-wire, taking a New York-bred allowance by 3 ¼ lengths with Ortiz aboard as the 8-5 favorite.
Ortiz didn’t call an audible Saturday, sending Little Popsie to the lead from the two-post after he broke third. Little Popsie took a length-and-a-half lead on 11-1 Doctor Dempsey and Angel Arroyo through a :23.32 first quarter. He maintained that advantage through a :46.76 half-mile and opened up a bigger lead in the stretch, winning by himself. Curious Cal, who went off at 15-1 odds with apprentice Eric Cancel riding from the outside post, rallied to finished second, a length and a half ahead of 9-2 Gypsum Johnny and Cornelio Velasquez in third. There was a gap of nearly fourth lengths back to 7-2 True Bet, ridden by Manuel Franco.
Little Popsie is now four for 10 on dirt with three thirds and earnings of almost $150,000.
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Late Night Stable’s 3-5 favorite Five Star Rampage, one of five first-time starters in a field of six, surged to the lead out of the starting gate under Junior Alvarado and cruised to an impressive 4 ¾-length victory in a six-furlong $55,000 New York-bred maiden special weight for three- year-old fillies.
Jimmy Jerkens trains Five Star Rampage, a daughter of Quality Road out of Genisa by Storm Cat who was bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds and JMJ Racing and sold for $175,000 as a yearling in August 2014. Nine of her 10 workouts for her debut were at Palm Meadows in Florida, and two of them were at bullets: one at three furlongs and another at four. She had an easy five-furlong breeze at Belmont Park in 1:03 2/5 on February 27th.
Five Star Rampage broke well from the four post, but had to work hard to take a half-length lead on 11-1 firster Same Kinda Crazy and Jose Ortiz through an opening quarter-mile in :23.89. Same Kinda Crazy got within a neck of Five Star Rampage through a :48.03 half-mile, but Alvarado hadn’t asked his filly for more. When he did, she responded immediately, streaking away from the field to win easily in a final time of 1:13.38.
Naked Empress, the only filly in the field who had raced, rallied to finish second, nearly two lengths clear of Picco Uno in third. Hot Cajun Sauce was a half-length back in fourth. Naked Empress was sent off at odds of 3-1 under Irad Ortiz, Jr., Picco Uno and Manuel Franco went off at 4-1 odds and Hot Cajun Sauce and Chris DeCarlo were 14-1.
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R and J Racing and G and A Racing’s four-year-old New York-bred gelding Bustin the Bank dominated Saturday’s finale to win his second straight race, a six-furlong $34,000 conditional $25,000 claimer, as the 6-5 favorite under Jose Ortiz in a field of eight. Taking the lead immediately from the four post, Bustin the Bank won by 6 ¾ lengths in a final time of 1:12.01. Gary Gullo trains Bustin the Bank, a son of Bustin Stones out of Jumpin Jacqueline by Mr. Sinatra who was claimed by his current connections for $25,000 when he was a front-running, tiring fourth in a New York-bred maiden claiming route on December 31st.
Bustin the Bank won his first start for Gullo, coming from slightly off the pace to capture a six- furlong New York-bred maiden $40,000 claiming sprint by 2 ½ lengths with Ortiz riding for the first time.
Bustin the Bank had no trouble making it two straight, shooting to the lead from the four post to take a half-length advantage on 7-1 Overcontrol, who was shedding blinkers under Manuel Franco, through a :22.97 first quarter. Bustin the Bank stretched his lead to 2 ½ lengths through a :46.22 half-mile, and widened the margin through the stretch.
New York-bred Norm the Giant, who went off at 10-1 odds under Dylan Davis, edged Overcontrol by a neck for second. Another New York-bred, 5-1 Andrew’s Got Zip, was 2 ½ lengths back in fourth.
Bustin the Bank is now two for 11 with two seconds, three thirds and earnings of more than $80,000.
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Though she didn’t win the third running of the mile-and-a-sixteenth $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational, Very Un Stables five-year-old homebred, the New York-bred mare Saythreehailmary’s, could not have been any gamer, finishing second by 3 ¼ lengths to Mei Ling. In the final sixteenth of a mile, Saythreehailmary’s held off Include Betty on her inside and Pangburn on her outside simultaneously to finish second, a neck ahead of both of them. Include Betty and Pangburn finished in a dead heat for third. In doing so under Manuel Franco, Saythreehailmary’s increased her earnings to nearly $490,000. John Morrison trains the daughter of Repent out of Just Call Me Angel by Devil’s Bag who has two wins and three seconds in her last five starts.
Cards of Stone Dominates in Allowance Score at 3-5 Friday
McConnell Racing Stable, Darlene Bilinski, Highclere America and Wachtel Stable’s gelding Cards of Stone dominated four rivals Friday at Aqueduct, winning a one-mile $57,000 New York-bred allowance/optional $75,000 claimer for three-year-olds gate to wire by 13 lengths. Sent off the 3-5 favorite under Kendrick Carmouche, Cards of Stone won while geared down in a final time of 1:39.99 on a track rated “good.”
Todd Pletcher trains Cards of Stone, a son of Bustin Stones out of Shuffle the Deck by High Yield who was bred by Roddy Valente and Thomas Lemme. Cards of Stone made his first two starts for trainer Jim Bond, winning his debut by 3 ½ lengths then finishing a solid second in allowance company on a sloppy track. Cards of Stone made his first start for Pletcher in the $98,000 Gander Stakes for New York-breds on February 6th, finishing a tiring fifth at 3-1 odds. Bettors hammered him on the drop-down Friday.
Breaking sharply from the three post, Cards of Stone was immediately in front. Unstoppable, who went off at 6-1 odds under Mike Luzzi, bore out on the clubhouse turn, carrying both 10-1 Chilly Bon Bon and 2-1 gray Holdtherightcards very wide. Luzzi then hustled Unstoppable into second, but he had trouble keeping up with Cards of Stone.
After an opening quarter in :23.88 and a half-mile in :48.68, Cards of Stone took off. He led by four lengths after three-quarters in 1:14.43 and won by himself. Owner Gentleman, who went off at 19-1 odds from the rail with Manuel Franco aboard, finished a clear second, four lengths ahead of Holdtherightcards, who was seeking his third consecutive victory. There was another big gap back to Chilly Bon Bon in fourth.
Cards of Stone is now two for four with one second and earnings of more than $80,000.
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Squeezing through on the inside of front-running Saluda in mid-stretch, Bran Jam Stable and Davis Clark’s five-year-old mare Lady Luciano went on to a 2 ½-length victory in a six-furlong $47,000 New York-bred $25,000 claimer, giving jockey Kendrick Carmouche his third winner of Friday afternoon. Lady Luciano was the 5-2 second choice in the field of 10. Keep Bustin, who went off at 18-1 odds from the rail under Angel Arroyo, rallied to finish a clear second, four lengths ahead of 7-1 Saluda, ridden by Jose Ortiz. Run a Dubb Dubb, the 6-5 favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr., was another two lengths back in fourth.
John Toscano, Jr. trains Lady Luciano, a daughter of Frost Giant out of Miriam’s Song by Peterhof who was dropping off a front-running seventh in a New York-bred allowance/optional $40,000 claimer and cutting back to a sprint.
Carmouche settled Lady Luciano in mid-pack as Saluda clung to a narrow lead over 25-1 Sonora through an opening quarter in :23.94 and a half-mile in :48.37. Lady Luciano moved past several horses on the inside to gain second, then gamely went through a narrow opening on the inside of Saluda to strike the lead.
Lady Luciano is now four for 21 on dirt with four seconds and four thirds. She also has one second from six turf starts, for total earnings of more than $215,000.
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Well-rated on the front end by Cornelio Velasquez, Chester and Mary Broman’s homebred, the four-year-old New York-bred filly Half Dreamin, rode the rail to win a six-furlong $34,000 conditional $25,000 claimer by two-lengths over New York-bred Whimsey’s Girl and Irad Ortiz, Jr. Both fillies went off at even-money in the field of just five, with Whimsey’s Girl a slight favorite. Linda Rice trains Half Dreamin, a daughter of Noonmark out of Bo’s Dream Catcher by Yes It’s True. Rice freshened her filly and dropped her in class after she finished seventh in a New York- bred allowance race as the 3-1 favorite on January 17th.
Velasquez hustled her to the lead on the rail Friday and Whimsey’s Girl chased her in second virtually the entire race. Half Dreamin led Whimsey’s Girl by a length through a :24.42 first quarter. She stretched her lead to three-quarters of a length by running a half-mile in :48.82, then drew clear through the stretch to win in a final time of 1:14.86.
Whimsey’s Girl edged another New York-bred, 16-1 Sweet Pursuit, by a head for second. New York-bred Sweetneida, who went off at 33-1 odds under Jackie Davis, was another three- quarters of a length back in fourth.
Half Dreamin is now two for three on dirt with earnings topping $50,000.
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Owner/trainer Jeffrey Englehart’s gray four-year-old filly Midnight Champagne made it easy for Kendrick Carmouche with a four-length wire-to-wire romp in a six-furlong $57,000 New York-bred allowance, winning her fourth consecutive race and giving the jockey his fourth winner of the day Friday. Sent off the 8-5 favorite in a field of nine, Midnight Champagne won in a final time of 1:12.51.
Zippity Zoom, the 2-1 second choice under Cornelio Velasquez, finished a clear second, four lengths in front of 4-1 His Girl Friday and Angel Arroyo. Sing for Beauty, a 6-1 shot ridden by Chris DeCarlo, did well to finish a distant fourth after being left at the start.
Hidden Lake Farm bred Midnight Champagne, a daughter of Noonmark out of Crystal Sweet by Holy Bull. Englehart claimed Midnight Champagne for $10,000 on January 15th, when she won her second straight race by a length and a quarter. In her first start for Englehart, she won a $25,000 claimer with Carmouche aboard for the first time on February 12th.
Midnight Champagne never had an anxious moment Friday, leading comfortably through splits of :23.56 and :47.17.
She is now six for 15 on dirt with one second, four thirds and just under $180,000 in earnings.
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In Friday’s finale, a six-furlong $25,000 maiden $16,000 claimer, Angel Arroyo guided Sheila Englehart’s four-year-old New York-bred colt Fratello Del Nord, trained by her husband Chris, to a stunning 7 ¾-length wire-to-wire victory. Sent off at 21-1 odds from the rail in a field of eight, he won in a final time of 1:13.37.
Fratello Del Nord hadn’t raced since finishing third in a maiden $12,000 claimer at Finger Lakes on October 30th. He broke sharply and sped past 5-2 New York-bred My Tommy Boy to take a half-length lead through a :24.49 first quarter. Fratello Del Nord stretched his lead to four lengths after running a half-mile in :48.83, and he continued to widen his advantage to the wire.
Gunlock, the gray 4-5 favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr., finished second, 3 ½ lengths clear of 9-1 New York-bred El Genio and John Bisono. Jeremy’s Song, who was sent off at odds of 6-1 under Manuel Franco, finished fourth.
Crazy Love Shocks at 24-1 Odds Under Jaime Rodriguez
Jaime Rodriguez sent owner/trainer Anthony Ferraro’s Crazy Love to the lead on the rail and she posted a surprisingly easy three-length wire-to-wire win at 24-1 odds in a $57,000 New York-bred allowance/optional $75,000 claimer for three-year-old fillies Thursday at Aqueduct. Crazy Love covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:45.87.
Ronald Zdrojeski and Lawrence Coassin bred Crazy Love, a daughter of Freud out of Love Strikes by Smart Strike who sold for just $2,700 as a yearling in September 2014. In her previous start on February 4th, she finished sixth by nine lengths at 7-1 odds to one of her opponents Thursday, Taken by Surprise.
Taken by Surprise went off the 8-5 second choice in a field of six Thursday under Irad Ortiz, Jr. B Three was the slight 8-5 favorite under Cornelio Velasquez.
But the race was controlled by Crazy Love, who led B Three by a length after an opening quarter in :24.87 and by a half-length after a pokey half-mile in :50.45. Crazy Love stretched her lead to three lengths after a glacial three-quarters in 1:16.30, and she remained strong on the lead all the way to the finish line.
Taken by Surprise rallied to finish second, three lengths ahead of 4-1 Miss Kew and Jose Ortiz. Trulamo, who went off at 4-1 odds under Manuel Franco, was another half-length back in fourth.
Crazy Love is now two for 10 on dirt with one second, three thirds and earnings of more than $70,000.
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In an earlier six-furlong $57,000 New York-bred allowance/optional $75,000 claimer for three- year-olds, apprentice rider Eric Cancel rallied Zilla Racing Stable’s colt Celtic Chaos, who was adding blinkers on the rail, to a neck victory over Lucky Lurie in a final time of 1:11.38. Celtic Chaos was sent off at odds of 3-1 and Lucky Lurie, ridden by Junior Alvarado, was the 2-1 second choice in the field of seven.
Kiaran McLaughlin trains Celtic Chaos, a son of Dublin out of Let Joy Reign by Awesome Again who sold for $55,000 as a two-year-old in April 2015. Tom Morley trained Celtic Chaos in his first four starts before he switched barns. Celtic Chaos finished an extremely distant fourth in his first start for McLaughlin on January 31st at one mile. McLaughlin added blinkers and cut Celtic Chaos back to a sprint Thursday.
Celtic Chaos was far back early as the gray Spooked Out, the even-money favorite ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., set the pace under pressure from 42-1 Possetano Prince. Spooked Out maintained a half-length lead after a quarter in :23.17 and a half-mile in :46.52. Alvarado had rallied Lucky Lurie from fifth into second by then and he went after the favorite as Celtic Chaos rallied into third.
Lucky Lurie sustained his momentum and took the lead, but he couldn’t hold off Celtic Chaos, who got up late to win. Lucky Lurie finished second, 2 ½ lengths clear of Spooked Out in third. Saratoga Giro finished fourth at 14-1 odds.
Celtic Chaos is now two for six with earnings of more than $85,000.
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In a $50,000 open $32,000 claimer for three-year-olds Thursday, owner/trainer/breeder Michelle Nevin’s New York-bred Linkappleyard won by a length under Jose Ortiz, then survived an inquiry and objection by Kendrick Carmouche, jockey of the second-place finisher, New York- bred Guyana Cat, to notch his second straight victory. He covered the one-mile distance in 1:40.96. Linkappleyard was the 2-1 second choice and Guyana Cat was sent off at odds of 6-1 in the field of eight.
Linkappleyard is a son of Frost Giant out of Backslash by Sharp Humor who won a state-bred maiden 40,000 claimer by 2 ¾ lengths in his previous start.
Another New York-bred, 7-1 Whiskey Neat, set the pace under Cornelio Velasquez: a quarter in :24.39, a half-mile in :49.02 and three-quarters in 1:14.48.
Linkappleyard rallied into second, then challenged and passed Whiskey Neat inside the sixteenth pole before he was confronted by Guyana Cat. In the shadow of the wire, Linkappleyard drifted out and Carmouche took a hold of Guyana Cat. The stewards ruled that it did not affect the outcome and let Linkappleyard stand as the winner.
Guyana Cat was left in second, a half-length ahead of 6-1 New York-bred Nobody Move. Whiskey Neat was just another neck back in fourth.
Linkappleyard is now two for five with one second and earnings of more than $65,000.
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In Thursday’s finale, a mile-and-70-yard $31,000 maiden $25,000 claimer for three-year-olds, DASL Stable’s gelding Only the Truth, well-ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, wore down odds- on Big East and Kendrick Carmouche to win by a length and a half in a final time of 1:46.27. Only the Truth was sent off at 7-2 odds and Big East was the 4-5 favorite in the field of seven.
Linda Rice trains Only the Truth, a son of Yes It’s True out of Duffel by Private Terms who was making his third career start.
Carmouche sent Big East to the lead and Only the Truth settled into second on his flank through a quarter in :25.01, a half-mile in :50.09 and three-quarters in 1:15.69. Only the Truth increased the pressure and wore Big East down to win. Big East saved second, a length and a half ahead of 7-2 D.S. Boyd and apprentice Eric Cancel in third. Southern Union finished a distant fourth at 14-1 odds.
Only the Truth now has a win and a third from three starts, for earnings topping $20,000.
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Cleverly rated on the front end by Mike Luzzi, Lake Lonely Racing’s four-year-old colt Overawe, who was adding blinkers and went off at 10-1 odds from the rail, held off Super Psyche, the 6-5 favorite in the field of seven under Junior Alvarado, to win a mile-and-a- sixteenth $55,000 New York-bred maiden special weight by a half-length Thursday at Aqueduct.
Earle Mack bred Overawe, a son of Awesome Again out of Joyful by Distorted Humor who sold for $235,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in September 2013. Overawe was dropping from open maiden company to New York-breds off a front-running fifth on February 7th, his first start since early August.
Luzzi hustled Overawe to the lead as 5-1 Daves Gone Bananas and Aaron Gryder settled on his flank in second through a quarter in :24.53 and a half-mile in :50.50. Overawe stretched his lead to a length through three-quarters in 1:15.92. By then, Super Psyche had advanced up the rail into third.
Overawe drew off by two lengths as Alvarado took Super Psyche to the outside for a clear shot. Super Psyche closed well, but Overawe held on tenaciously to win in a final time of 1:47.53. Super Psyche held second, four lengths clear of Daves Gone Bananas in third. There was a gap of 2 ½ lengths back to Wine Not, the 9-5 second choice under Kendrick Carmouche, in fourth.
Overawe is now one for seven on dirt with three seconds and one third, for earnings of a tad under $80,000.
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In a mile-and-70-yard $31,000 New York-bred maiden $25,000 claimer for three-year-olds Thursday, Repole Stable’s homebred colt Willie’s Mojo, the 3-5 favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr., finally wore down 34-1 On to Trenton and Dylan Davis to score by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:46.74. Todd Pletcher trains Willie’s Mojo, a son of Uncle Mo out of Tamboorensnshampan by Deerhound who was making his fourth career start.
For Good Reason, the longest shot in the field of six at 60-1 under Jaime Rodriguez, dueled with On to Trenton for the early lead. Willie’s Mojo alternated in third and fourth with 7-1 Here Comes RJ and Manuel Franco through a half-mile in :48.88. On to Trenton then put away For Good Reason and opened up a 2 ½-length lead on Willie’s Mojo, who advanced into second through three-quarters in 1:14.21.
On to Trenton still led by a length and a half in mid-stretch before Willie’s Mojo found his best stride and closed in. On to Trenton was game, but couldn’t hold off the favorite. On to Trenton finished a clear second, nearly five lengths ahead of 9-2 Bustin to Get Home and Jose Ortiz in third. No Tanx Blue Chip, who stumbled badly at the start, rallied for fourth at 3-1 odds under apprentice rider Eric Cancel.
Willie’s Mojo now has a win and a third from four starts, for earnings of just under $25,000.