Derby Radar: By George dominates in bow for Clement

Trainer Christophe Clement’s first time starter By George scored in  impressive fashion against Aqueduct on Saturday. 

Breaking from the inside post position, the son of Into Mischief settled in behind Moonshiningbright for the first quarter, before taking the lead going inside at the pole. By George and Moonshiningbright ran close together through the turn, but the Clement-trainee broke away down the stretch to win by 5 1/4 lengths.

Moonshiningbright was caught by Too Boss, who finished second. That colt was one of two Todd Pletcher entries in the field, with the other being Inspiration Point, who left favored at 1-1.

Inspiration Point,  son of California Chrome out of Diva Style, by Unbridled’s Song, a $725,000 purchase of Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, stumbled out of the gate and was never able to recover, looking green in a fifth-place finish.

By George is owned by Jump Sucker Farm, Claiborne Farm and Adele B. Dilschneider. Out of the Malibu Moon mare Phenician Moon, he was a $190,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale. By George was bred H. Allen Poindexter.

Clement, who has had a run of success this year with debut runners, could now opt to try and put the colt on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Clement has never won the Run for the Roses, but did win the Belmont Stakes with Tonalist in 2014.

Splits for the race, an $80,000 maiden special weight going going six furlongs on the dirt, were 23.2, 47.6 and 1:00.2. The winning time was 1:13.6.

By George, who left as a 5-1 third choice, returned $12.20 for the win.

Proxy wins at Fair Grounds

By George was not the only 2-year-old with an impressive showing on Saturday. Proxy, a Michael Stidham trainee, moved to 2-for-3 with a win in a 2-year-old allowance race at Fair Grounds.

The son of Tapit out of Grade 1 winner Panty Raid, by Include, survived a disqualification review to earn the win over Good First in a four-horse field.