Sunday, May 22, 2005
Despite loss, Giacomo proves worthy
Despite loss, Giacomo proves worthyBALTIMORE -- No Triple Crown for Giacomo. Nothing to be embarrassed about, either.Giacomo's bid to back up his Kentucky Derby victory ended Saturday with a third-place finish at the Preakness. As he did in the Derby, the horse rallied gamely.This time, though, it wasn't enough.Afleet Alex survived a scary collision to win the race ahead of Scrappy T and Giacomo, who stormed to the finish after standing in 10th place at the three-quarters pole.It was a gallant effort by the horse that shocked the racing world by capturing the Derby as a 50-1 shot, but it means that another year will go by without a Triple Crown winner.Giacomo jockey Mike Smith did a wonderful job of weaving through traffic in the 20-horse Kentucky Derby, but couldn't do the same in the 14-horse Preakness."I didn't get loose until we got to the quarter pole. I was just stuck right behind them,'' Smith said. "I could have went around, but that was an awful long way to go around. I was going to lose at least 10 lengths.''His only option was to hope for an opening. By the time he found one, it was too late."I was waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting,'' Smith said. "I was able to get out and make my run, but by then they were gone.''Every time he looked for a hole, the gap was filled. That's the difference between finishing first and third."A lot of them shut on me today. That happens in racing,'' Smith said. "I was so proud of him to run third. I'm looking forward to the Belmont.''Giacomo was bidding to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. He went off as the third choice in the race, and justified that support by paying $4.80 to show.He is the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby and lose the Preakness since Monarchos in 2001."I don't think there was any embarrassment in running third in the Preakness,'' trainer John Shirreffs said. "We were pleased with the effort. I think it says a lot about Giacomo. Mike Smith said he had a lot of horse at the wire. He was full of run.''With no place to go."My horse ran dynamite, but I had to idle a very long way and that really hurts you in this type of race,'' Smith said. "He galloped out great, so I know he'll come back strong in his next race.''
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
For Zito, Multi-Tasking Is A Blessing
"Come on six! Stay up you three! Get out of there 12! Where's the four? Who's that?"
These may sound like the common shouts of an overzealous, exotics-playing railbird, but on Saturday, it just might be something you hear from as esteemed a place as the Chruchill Downs box of New York-born trainer Nick Zito.
The man--whose enthusiasm led him to exclaim "I love you God, I love you America, I love you everybody" on national television after one of his two Kentucky Derby (gr. I) wins--has plenty of love to go around these days. He is set to send five horses to post in this year's 131st running, making for an enviable embarrassment of riches among colleagues, and an interesting series of ethical questions for first-year law students.
What virtually writes the story line for the media-credentialed poses a huge challenge for the trainer. With Andromeda's Hero, High Fly, Noble Causeway, Sun King--and likely post time favorite Bellamy Road--Zito will saddle up a full quarter of a potential 20-horse field, for as many different owners. Only D. Wayne Lukas, in 1996, accomplished a similar feat. In that year, his Grindstone finished a winner and his Prince of Thieves finished third. Editor's Note (sixth), Victory Speech (10th), and Honour and Glory (18th) were further up the track.
Lukas will start Bob and Beverly Lewis' Going Wild in 2005 and was scheduled to send out their Consolidator until a fractured sesmoid in a Monday morning workout sent the chestnut colt into early retirement.
"The Lewises and I have been very blessed in this race so you're not going hear us do any complaining about losing Consolidator," said Lukas. "But having more horses here makes you feel better, Hell, I wish I had three. People always ask me if it gives you any more pressure, but I always tell them the stress comes from watching the other guy have three."
Lukas has twice started three horses in the Derby. In 2000, he was shut out when Exchange Rate (12th), High Yield (15th), and Commendable (17th) failed to fire. In 1995, though, he found major success when Thunder Gulch powered home for the win, and Timber Country got up for third. Filly Serena's Song finished 16th.
"That year I actually thought Timber Country had a better chance to win," said the four-time Derby winner. Lukas has saddled a Derby record 41 runners spanning from 1981-2003. He was on the board with 10, and unplaced in 31 of those. His closest competitor in that category is fellow four-time winner H. J. "Dick" Thompson with 24.
As for trainers with entrants in 2005, Zito has started 14 (2 winners, six other on the board); Bob Baffert, who trains Sort It Out, has sent out 13 students since 1996-2003 (three winners and three others on the board). Baffert sent out three runners in 1999 and fared best that year with Prime Timber who ran fourth.
Bobby Frankel (High Limit) has hit the board with three of his seven career starters, most recently second and third with Empire Maker and Peace Rules, respectively, in 2003, and 12th last year with Master David.
Todd Pletcher, who will send Bandini, Flower Alley, and Coin Silver, saddled four entrants in the 2000 Derby and understands owner's expectations as well as anyone. His best that year, Impeachment, finished third, and More Than Ready missed fourth. Trippi (11th), and Graeme Hall (19th) also ran.
"I'll saddle them all personally, but I don't like to sit too close to an owner on any race day, let alone the Kentucky Derby," said Pletcher.
Zito, who will personally saddle all five horses and then sit "all alone," is constantly questioned about dueling loyalty and owner juggling.
"It's a situation where the owners understand that it happens," said Zito of his loaded 3-year-old barn. "I always say that life is a game of people. Fortunately, I am working for some great people and so far no egos have gotten in the way. It's really worked out well. They all realize that it's hard just getting to the Derby and everything else after that is just a plus."
As for the pressure, Zito echoed Lukas' sentiments. "Right now this is good pressure. I always tell the story about Seattle Slew's trainer Billy Turner, who said 'the pressure is on you worse when you don't have Seattle Slew.' And it will never happen again, especially with five different entities.
"And I told my wife Kim that this will be the most memorable Derby we've ever had. It's been 15 years since I brought my first horse (Thirty Six Red-9th) and now we've got five and there are even horses here--Greeley's Galaxy, by Mr. Greeley, and Don't Get Mad, by Steven Got Even--whose fathers I trained, said Zito in his daily morning briefing to an overflow crowd assembled outside a makeshift barrier of PVC plastic.
"And I can guarantee you there won't be a fence up next year."
Zito is also philosophical about the likelihood of failure, with at least a few of his employers in the best of scenarios.
"Of course if you're a competitor you want to win, but I'd have to be a joke to feel anything but blessed, humbled and satisfied. If I'm a human being I have to ask, 'do I want everything in life?'"
These may sound like the common shouts of an overzealous, exotics-playing railbird, but on Saturday, it just might be something you hear from as esteemed a place as the Chruchill Downs box of New York-born trainer Nick Zito.
The man--whose enthusiasm led him to exclaim "I love you God, I love you America, I love you everybody" on national television after one of his two Kentucky Derby (gr. I) wins--has plenty of love to go around these days. He is set to send five horses to post in this year's 131st running, making for an enviable embarrassment of riches among colleagues, and an interesting series of ethical questions for first-year law students.
What virtually writes the story line for the media-credentialed poses a huge challenge for the trainer. With Andromeda's Hero, High Fly, Noble Causeway, Sun King--and likely post time favorite Bellamy Road--Zito will saddle up a full quarter of a potential 20-horse field, for as many different owners. Only D. Wayne Lukas, in 1996, accomplished a similar feat. In that year, his Grindstone finished a winner and his Prince of Thieves finished third. Editor's Note (sixth), Victory Speech (10th), and Honour and Glory (18th) were further up the track.
Lukas will start Bob and Beverly Lewis' Going Wild in 2005 and was scheduled to send out their Consolidator until a fractured sesmoid in a Monday morning workout sent the chestnut colt into early retirement.
"The Lewises and I have been very blessed in this race so you're not going hear us do any complaining about losing Consolidator," said Lukas. "But having more horses here makes you feel better, Hell, I wish I had three. People always ask me if it gives you any more pressure, but I always tell them the stress comes from watching the other guy have three."
Lukas has twice started three horses in the Derby. In 2000, he was shut out when Exchange Rate (12th), High Yield (15th), and Commendable (17th) failed to fire. In 1995, though, he found major success when Thunder Gulch powered home for the win, and Timber Country got up for third. Filly Serena's Song finished 16th.
"That year I actually thought Timber Country had a better chance to win," said the four-time Derby winner. Lukas has saddled a Derby record 41 runners spanning from 1981-2003. He was on the board with 10, and unplaced in 31 of those. His closest competitor in that category is fellow four-time winner H. J. "Dick" Thompson with 24.
As for trainers with entrants in 2005, Zito has started 14 (2 winners, six other on the board); Bob Baffert, who trains Sort It Out, has sent out 13 students since 1996-2003 (three winners and three others on the board). Baffert sent out three runners in 1999 and fared best that year with Prime Timber who ran fourth.
Bobby Frankel (High Limit) has hit the board with three of his seven career starters, most recently second and third with Empire Maker and Peace Rules, respectively, in 2003, and 12th last year with Master David.
Todd Pletcher, who will send Bandini, Flower Alley, and Coin Silver, saddled four entrants in the 2000 Derby and understands owner's expectations as well as anyone. His best that year, Impeachment, finished third, and More Than Ready missed fourth. Trippi (11th), and Graeme Hall (19th) also ran.
"I'll saddle them all personally, but I don't like to sit too close to an owner on any race day, let alone the Kentucky Derby," said Pletcher.
Zito, who will personally saddle all five horses and then sit "all alone," is constantly questioned about dueling loyalty and owner juggling.
"It's a situation where the owners understand that it happens," said Zito of his loaded 3-year-old barn. "I always say that life is a game of people. Fortunately, I am working for some great people and so far no egos have gotten in the way. It's really worked out well. They all realize that it's hard just getting to the Derby and everything else after that is just a plus."
As for the pressure, Zito echoed Lukas' sentiments. "Right now this is good pressure. I always tell the story about Seattle Slew's trainer Billy Turner, who said 'the pressure is on you worse when you don't have Seattle Slew.' And it will never happen again, especially with five different entities.
"And I told my wife Kim that this will be the most memorable Derby we've ever had. It's been 15 years since I brought my first horse (Thirty Six Red-9th) and now we've got five and there are even horses here--Greeley's Galaxy, by Mr. Greeley, and Don't Get Mad, by Steven Got Even--whose fathers I trained, said Zito in his daily morning briefing to an overflow crowd assembled outside a makeshift barrier of PVC plastic.
"And I can guarantee you there won't be a fence up next year."
Zito is also philosophical about the likelihood of failure, with at least a few of his employers in the best of scenarios.
"Of course if you're a competitor you want to win, but I'd have to be a joke to feel anything but blessed, humbled and satisfied. If I'm a human being I have to ask, 'do I want everything in life?'"
Saturday, April 30, 2005
LIMERICK - There are about 650 miles that separate Royersford and Louisville, Ky.
In the world of horse racing, the two towns might as well be 10,000 miles apart.In Louisville horse racing is life. People live for it. It dominates daily conversation. The countless number of thoroughbred horse farms in and around the rural farmland can testify to that.In Royersford, horse racing is an afterthought. If you love it, you are in the minority. But on Thursday, Louisville and the world of horse racing inexplicably crossed paths with Royersford - thanks to an incredible 3-year-old colt named Afleet Alex.One year removed from the Smarty Jones mania that swept the Philadelphia area, there is another local horse that's ready to take us by storm. Only this time, the local connections are a lot closer.Bob Brittingham is one of the majority owners of Afleet Alex, a horse that next Saturday will likely be the favorite in the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby. Brittingham's wife, Terese, is the owner of Keller Williams Realty Group in Royersford.Thursday at Keller Williams about 50 of the Brittinghams' co-workers, family and friends threw an Afleet Alex pep rally. They were all there to root on the horse that for the second straight year has made Philadelphia the center of the horse racing world."The pep rally was a nice surprise to us", said Bob Brittingham, who lives in Collegeville and is one of the five owners, all from the Philadelphia area. "The people in the office have showed great support for us and its fun when you can have so many to share it with."I don't think anyone expected this to come out of Collegeville - maybe a Revolutionary War story or something, but not a Kentucky Derby horse. It's really special."Brittingham and his partners call their horse racing partnership Cash Is King Stables. Last April they purchased Afleet Alex for $75,000. Their trainer, Tim Ritchey, who is based out of Delaware Park, advised the partnership to buy Afleet Alex because, "he liked the way he moved." At that time, nobody had any clue that the son of Northern Afleet would be this good.Afleet Alex went on to win his first two races at Delaware Park in eyebrow-raising fashion. He won the first race by 11 1/4 lengths. The second by 12 lengths. After that, the speedy colt went up to Saratoga, N.Y, and won two more races, including the Sanford Stakes in record-setting time.By that time, the owners knew they had something."We were thinking about the Derby by then," admitted Brittingham, 42, who graduated from Neshaminy High. But it wasn't until April 19 that the dream of having a horse in the Kentucky Derby became a reality. On that day, at Oaklawn Park, Afleet Alex destroyed the field in the Arkansas Derby, winning by a race-record eight lengths, and solidifying him as one of the best horses in the country.It was Afleet Alex's sixth win in nine races. To date, he has earned Cash Is King over $1.3 million. By the time they sell the breeding rights, he will fetch them tens of millions of dollars more.But right now, the Brittinghams, who leave for Louisville Saturday, are not thinking about money."I'm going down there with the attitude that I'm a tourist, not an owner," Brittingham said. "I am a horse racing fan and there is a lot I want to see. I'm just going to enjoy everything. I want to see other people's horses as much as they want to see ours."
In the world of horse racing, the two towns might as well be 10,000 miles apart.In Louisville horse racing is life. People live for it. It dominates daily conversation. The countless number of thoroughbred horse farms in and around the rural farmland can testify to that.In Royersford, horse racing is an afterthought. If you love it, you are in the minority. But on Thursday, Louisville and the world of horse racing inexplicably crossed paths with Royersford - thanks to an incredible 3-year-old colt named Afleet Alex.One year removed from the Smarty Jones mania that swept the Philadelphia area, there is another local horse that's ready to take us by storm. Only this time, the local connections are a lot closer.Bob Brittingham is one of the majority owners of Afleet Alex, a horse that next Saturday will likely be the favorite in the 131st running of the Kentucky Derby. Brittingham's wife, Terese, is the owner of Keller Williams Realty Group in Royersford.Thursday at Keller Williams about 50 of the Brittinghams' co-workers, family and friends threw an Afleet Alex pep rally. They were all there to root on the horse that for the second straight year has made Philadelphia the center of the horse racing world."The pep rally was a nice surprise to us", said Bob Brittingham, who lives in Collegeville and is one of the five owners, all from the Philadelphia area. "The people in the office have showed great support for us and its fun when you can have so many to share it with."I don't think anyone expected this to come out of Collegeville - maybe a Revolutionary War story or something, but not a Kentucky Derby horse. It's really special."Brittingham and his partners call their horse racing partnership Cash Is King Stables. Last April they purchased Afleet Alex for $75,000. Their trainer, Tim Ritchey, who is based out of Delaware Park, advised the partnership to buy Afleet Alex because, "he liked the way he moved." At that time, nobody had any clue that the son of Northern Afleet would be this good.Afleet Alex went on to win his first two races at Delaware Park in eyebrow-raising fashion. He won the first race by 11 1/4 lengths. The second by 12 lengths. After that, the speedy colt went up to Saratoga, N.Y, and won two more races, including the Sanford Stakes in record-setting time.By that time, the owners knew they had something."We were thinking about the Derby by then," admitted Brittingham, 42, who graduated from Neshaminy High. But it wasn't until April 19 that the dream of having a horse in the Kentucky Derby became a reality. On that day, at Oaklawn Park, Afleet Alex destroyed the field in the Arkansas Derby, winning by a race-record eight lengths, and solidifying him as one of the best horses in the country.It was Afleet Alex's sixth win in nine races. To date, he has earned Cash Is King over $1.3 million. By the time they sell the breeding rights, he will fetch them tens of millions of dollars more.But right now, the Brittinghams, who leave for Louisville Saturday, are not thinking about money."I'm going down there with the attitude that I'm a tourist, not an owner," Brittingham said. "I am a horse racing fan and there is a lot I want to see. I'm just going to enjoy everything. I want to see other people's horses as much as they want to see ours."
Friday, April 29, 2005
Kentucky Derby $5 Million Pay Day Prize Goes Unclaimed
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 4, 2003) - While the 3-year-old gelding Funny Cide claimed the roses in the 129th running of the Kentucky Derby at historic Churchill Downs, no one claimed the $5 million prize for picking the exact order of finish in this year's "Run for the Roses" as part of the first-ever international promotion connected to the Derby. The Kentucky Derby $5 Million Pay Day, a free Internet-based contest of skill offered exclusively through www.kentuckyderby.com, challenged players to pick the exact order of finish for the 2003 Derby, which had 16 starters. Of the 172,246 individuals who registered to play the online game, no one was able to correctly select the entire running line for the race. The contest generated considerable interest, as tens of thousands signed up to play in the final hours that entries were accepted. Additionally, traffic to the Churchill Downs network of Web sites on Derby Day (May 3) increased by 57 percent over the day before (Oaks Day, May 2) with more than 1.24 million unique visitors viewing the sites. There were more than 827,000 unique visitors to www.kentuckyderby.com, the official Web site of the Kentucky Derby, on May 3 alone. "We're extremely pleased with the fan response and level of interest in the Kentucky Derby $5 Million Pay Day," said Karl F. Schmitt Jr., president of the Churchill Downs Simulcast Network ("CDSN"), which developed and administered the online contest. "While we're disappointed that no one claimed the $5 million prize, we're very excited about the 'buzz' generated by the contest and by the number of individuals who signed up to play. Those who visited our network of Web sites had the opportunity to learn more about America's premier horse race, the Kentucky Derby, as well as the quality racing offered at all Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN) racetracks through CDSN. "Our stated goal for this first-ever international promotion was to introduce new fans to the sport of horseracing and extend and enhance the Kentucky Derby brand," Schmitt continued. "By all measures, the contest was a success in that regard, and even though we didn't have a winner, the additional exposure has helped us identify new customers with an expressed interest in horseracing. We look forward to reaching out to them in the future as we promote the Derby and its sister race, the Kentucky Oaks, as well as CDSN racing and our sport in general." The Kentucky Derby $5 Million Pay Day contest was open to residents of the United States and Canada (except Quebec), as well as England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Kentuckyderby.com is the official Web site of the Kentucky Derby and is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated. As one of the world's premier sporting events and the first leg of horse racing's Visa Triple Crown Challenge, the Kentucky Derby traditionally takes place on the first Saturday in May. The 129th running of this celebrated event is scheduled for May 3, 2003, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Approximately 150,000 people attend the Derby in person, with more than 20 million people tuning in via television and radio worldwide. Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI"), headquartered in Louisville, Ky., owns and operates world-renowned horseracing venues throughout the United States. The Company's racetracks in California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky host 115 graded-stakes events and many of North America's most prestigious races, including the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, Hollywood Gold Cup and Arlington Million. CDI racetracks have hosted nine Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships - more than any other North American racing company. CDI also owns off-track betting facilities and has interests in various television production, telecommunications and racing services companies that support CDI's network of simulcasting and racing operations. CDI trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CHDN and can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldownsincorporated.com.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
MIDDLEBURG, Va. -- Armata Stable's Toughkenamon roared past favorite Paradise's Boss between the final two to win the $75,000 Temple Gwathmey hurdle stakes (Gr. II) -- first leg of the Steeplechase Triple Crown -- at the Middleburg Spring Races Saturday.
Trained by Kathy McKenna, the 6-year-old sat just off the pace of Paradise's Boss before kicking clear and winning by five lengths for jockey Rob Massey. Erin Go Bragh (Matt McCarron) was a late-running second with Paradise's Boss (Tom Foley) third. The winner covered the 2 1/8 miles in 4:01.
Massey planned to stalk the favorite, who won four of seven last year, from the start and followed the strategy perfectly.
"I wanted to be very handy today, just to keep out of trouble and have a clean run," said Massey. "I jumped very well and had a great trip around the inside. Paradise's Boss did nothing wrong last year and the plan was to not let him get too far out of our sights."
A winner in his only prior hurdle start, which came last fall, Toughkenamon raced on the flat for trainer Kevin Boniface before joining McKenna's steeplechase barn last summer. The gray son of Maria's Mon earned $45,000 for the win, and heads to the series second test, the $75,000 National Hunt Cup, May 21 at Radnor, Pa. The Steeplechase Triple Crown is restricted to novice hurdlers, who are in their first or second season of racing over jumps.
The winner is named after a small town in southeastern Pennsylvania and was bred in Maryland by Bonita Farm and Kennard Warfield.
Trained by Kathy McKenna, the 6-year-old sat just off the pace of Paradise's Boss before kicking clear and winning by five lengths for jockey Rob Massey. Erin Go Bragh (Matt McCarron) was a late-running second with Paradise's Boss (Tom Foley) third. The winner covered the 2 1/8 miles in 4:01.
Massey planned to stalk the favorite, who won four of seven last year, from the start and followed the strategy perfectly.
"I wanted to be very handy today, just to keep out of trouble and have a clean run," said Massey. "I jumped very well and had a great trip around the inside. Paradise's Boss did nothing wrong last year and the plan was to not let him get too far out of our sights."
A winner in his only prior hurdle start, which came last fall, Toughkenamon raced on the flat for trainer Kevin Boniface before joining McKenna's steeplechase barn last summer. The gray son of Maria's Mon earned $45,000 for the win, and heads to the series second test, the $75,000 National Hunt Cup, May 21 at Radnor, Pa. The Steeplechase Triple Crown is restricted to novice hurdlers, who are in their first or second season of racing over jumps.
The winner is named after a small town in southeastern Pennsylvania and was bred in Maryland by Bonita Farm and Kennard Warfield.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Kinsman Stable's Bellamy Road, the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), breezed an easy five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 at Churchill Downs Thursday morning. It was the colt's first work since his 17 1/2-length romp in the Wood Memorial (gr. I) April 9.
In the Wood, Bellamy Road, a son of Concerto, set a new stakes record and equaled Riva Ridge's track record of 1:47 flat. This effort came following a 15 3/4-length score in a Gulfstream allowance race in his 3-year-old debut and first start for trainer Nick Zito.
In Thursday's work, Zito was able to harness the colt's brilliant speed, not wanting him to do too much following his sensational performance in the Wood, in which he earned a 120 Beyer Speed Figure.
Following fractions of :13 1/5, :25 4/5, and :38, Bellamy Road, according to Churchill Downs clockers, went his final two splits in an unusual :11 4/5 and :13 before galloping out in 1:16 2/5 with an additional eighth in :13 2/5.
"It was exactly what I was looking for," Zito said. "He looked good all the way around, and I got him galloping out in 1:15 4/5."
In regard to the contrasting closing splits, Zito said. "I worked him around both turns, so the points of call were not at the normal poles. We all had his closing eighth in :11 and change. It was a great work and Carlos (Correa) did it perfectly."
Zito said he has a top rider pretty much lined up for Andromeda's Hero, but there is nothing official yet.
In the Wood, Bellamy Road, a son of Concerto, set a new stakes record and equaled Riva Ridge's track record of 1:47 flat. This effort came following a 15 3/4-length score in a Gulfstream allowance race in his 3-year-old debut and first start for trainer Nick Zito.
In Thursday's work, Zito was able to harness the colt's brilliant speed, not wanting him to do too much following his sensational performance in the Wood, in which he earned a 120 Beyer Speed Figure.
Following fractions of :13 1/5, :25 4/5, and :38, Bellamy Road, according to Churchill Downs clockers, went his final two splits in an unusual :11 4/5 and :13 before galloping out in 1:16 2/5 with an additional eighth in :13 2/5.
"It was exactly what I was looking for," Zito said. "He looked good all the way around, and I got him galloping out in 1:15 4/5."
In regard to the contrasting closing splits, Zito said. "I worked him around both turns, so the points of call were not at the normal poles. We all had his closing eighth in :11 and change. It was a great work and Carlos (Correa) did it perfectly."
Zito said he has a top rider pretty much lined up for Andromeda's Hero, but there is nothing official yet.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
NEW YORK -- Acey Deucey continued her emergence within the 3-year-old filly ranks Saturday afternoon with a rousing victory in the $150,000 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct.
The New York-bred has won two of her last three, including the Dearly Precious Stakes at Aqueduct in February at 24-1.
The price was much shorter in the one-mile Comely where Acey Deucey passed the test in her first run beyond seven furlongs.
The added distance proved crucial, giving jockey Diane Nelson time to find clear running room. Acey Deucey, clocked in 1:35.95 on the fast track, gave trainer John Morrison his first graded stakes victory.
Acey Deucey earned $90,000 for owner Jeffrey Tucker and paid $9, $4.20 and $3. Seeking The Ante paid $11.80 and $5.70 with Pleasant Chimes returning $2.70 to show.
Acey Deucey was stuck in traffic turning for home before Nelson angled the filly to the far outside. Acey Deucey responded with a bold rush to storm past Seeking The Ante, the other New York-bred in the Grade 2 stakes, by a half length, followed by Pleasant Chimes, the 2-1 favorite.
"When I turned for home, I said 'Something's got to open up,''' Nelson said. "I just had to wait and get out. She wants to run that way, she wants to sit and wait.''
Last Toots battled for the lead before fading to fourth. A commanding winner of her last two at Philadelphia Park, Last Toots was sent out by the Smarty Jones team: jockey Stewart Elliott, trainer John Servis and owners Patricia and Roy Chapman.
Last Toots was followed by Quite A Ruckus, Secrets Galore, Bright Mahogany and Toll Taker.
Scott Lake, second in victories in the national training standings behind Steve Asmussen, won three races on the Aqueduct card. Lake won with Private Boot in the first, Stonewood in the third and Euro Code in the fourth.
The New York-bred has won two of her last three, including the Dearly Precious Stakes at Aqueduct in February at 24-1.
The price was much shorter in the one-mile Comely where Acey Deucey passed the test in her first run beyond seven furlongs.
The added distance proved crucial, giving jockey Diane Nelson time to find clear running room. Acey Deucey, clocked in 1:35.95 on the fast track, gave trainer John Morrison his first graded stakes victory.
Acey Deucey earned $90,000 for owner Jeffrey Tucker and paid $9, $4.20 and $3. Seeking The Ante paid $11.80 and $5.70 with Pleasant Chimes returning $2.70 to show.
Acey Deucey was stuck in traffic turning for home before Nelson angled the filly to the far outside. Acey Deucey responded with a bold rush to storm past Seeking The Ante, the other New York-bred in the Grade 2 stakes, by a half length, followed by Pleasant Chimes, the 2-1 favorite.
"When I turned for home, I said 'Something's got to open up,''' Nelson said. "I just had to wait and get out. She wants to run that way, she wants to sit and wait.''
Last Toots battled for the lead before fading to fourth. A commanding winner of her last two at Philadelphia Park, Last Toots was sent out by the Smarty Jones team: jockey Stewart Elliott, trainer John Servis and owners Patricia and Roy Chapman.
Last Toots was followed by Quite A Ruckus, Secrets Galore, Bright Mahogany and Toll Taker.
Scott Lake, second in victories in the national training standings behind Steve Asmussen, won three races on the Aqueduct card. Lake won with Private Boot in the first, Stonewood in the third and Euro Code in the fourth.
