Ackeret Nabs First Stakes Victory in Winkfield
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Photo:
NYRA/Joe Labozzetta
Following an ambitious start in the Grade 3 Jerome where he finished a distant fourth on January 3, a cutback in distance was all Ackeret needed to show his true potential, stalking a tepid pace en route to his first career stakes win in Sunday's $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Breaking alertly and content to sit in fifth position under jockey Jose Ortiz, Ackeret stalked a field that was off and running through moderate early fractions of 23.07 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.66 for the half-mile set by dueling front runners Regal Minister, Lord Commander and Joe Franklin.
Turning for home, Ackeret, traveling three wide, was angled to the rail in the upper stretch and edged away from post-time favorite Majestic Affair to secure a 2 ¼-length victory.
"The plan was to stalk [the pace] because there was a lot of speed," said Ortiz. "At the three-eighths pole, I decided to go inside and take a shot. The rail was open and I had a lot of horse, so I went through. He may be able to go farther, but I liked him sprinting today. He was very game."
Ackeret completed the six furlongs in 1:11.13 and returned $14.60 for a $2 win wager. Making only his fifth career start, the dark bay or brown ridgling increased his career earnings to $130,000 for owners Pick Six racing and Silver Streak Stables.
"Professional, excellent, unbelievable performance," commented David Panzman, managing partner of Silver Streak Stables. "The plan from here is to go to the Bay Shore [Grade 3, $300,000 on April 4], but we're just enjoying today."
Possessed held on for third by head, followed by Joe Franklin, Lord Commander, and Regal Minister.
Source: NYRA Communications
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