 Burning Sands Stables' homebredAwesome Gent, who sat just off two dueling leaders for almost a half-mile, took over in the stretch and pulled away to win the $125,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack March 6. Watch Replay
It was the third consecutive win for New York-bred Awesome Gent, a gelding byAwesome Again out of the Sir Richard Lewis mare Pawnee Patti. All three victories have come on the inner dirt at Aqueduct.
Moon Over a Beauty and Sudden Surprise both broke sharply from posts 1 and 2, respectively, and hooked up in a battle that carried through an opening quarter-mile in :22.17 and a half-mile in :45.64 on a track rated fast. Jockey Manuel Franco allowed Awesome Gent to engage the top pair on the far turn and urged him past the leaders in mid-stretch.
Awesome Gent won by four lengths in 1:10.60 for six furlongs. Midwest Thoroughbreds' Quixote, a Pomeroy gelding who had won both of his starts at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, rallied inside of the winner to finish second, one length ahead of Zayat Stables' King Kranzin third.
Awesome Gent, who gave trainer Todd Pletcher his third win on the program, paid $9.40 to win.
"When I saw the two horses fighting for the lead, I just waited (on him)," Franco said. "He's a nice horse. He has speed too, but he'll let you do what you want with him."
Awesome Gent made his career debut at Saratoga Race Course last summer and finished eighth as the favorite in a New York-bred maiden special weight event. He was gelded and returned Dec. 19 to win a state-bred maiden test at Aqueduct.
He then won a state-bred entry-level allowance race Jan. 15. The Winkfield marked his first start in open company. |
