Big A undercard: Patriot Spirit wins Vosburgh, tops 4 stakes

Patriot Spirit hounded Light the Way for the first three-quarters of a mile and finally wore down the long-shot rival Saturday on his way to a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Vosburgh Stakes in the Belmont at Aqueduct fall meet.

The seven-furlong race was a win-and-you’re-in qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Click here for Belmont at Aqueduct entries and results.

Owned by George Mellon and trained by Mike Campbell, 4-year-old Patriot Spirit (5-2) was ridden head to head with Kendrick Carmouche and 5-year-old Light the Way (28-1) through a first quarter-mile of 22.76 seconds and a first half-mile for which no time was registered.

Post-time favorite Scotland (2-1) loomed wide turning for home while Light the Way and Patriot Spirit kept up their duel ahead of him. Light the Way finally capitulated approaching the sixteenth pole, and with Crazy Mason (3-1) closing from seventh, Patriot Spirit relentlessly raced on to victory. After three-quarters of a mile in 1:09.12, the winning time was 1:21.84 on the fast main track.

Crazy Mason (3-1) placed second, Scotland came in third, and Doc Sullivan (7-1) took fourth in the open-company field of eight.

Patriot Spirit paid $7.22, $4.02 and $2.80; Crazy Mason $4.32 and $2.68; and Scotland $2.60.

A winner last out in the Reigh Count on July 26 at Colonial Downs, Patriot Spirit is a Constitution colt who is a four-time stakes winner. He finished off the board in his first four graded-stakes starts.

Locked wins vs. only 2 in Woodward

Locked was uncorked to make his triumphant run in the homestretch, taking the lead with five strides to spare en route to a three-quarter-length victory against only two rivals in the $300,000 Woodward (G2).

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, the 4-year-old Gun Runner colt who is trained by Todd Pletcher was ridden patiently by John Velázquez while Phileas Fogg (4-5) set fractions of 24.89, 48.69, 1:12.03 and 1:35.74 in the 1 1/8-mile race.

With Kendrick Carmouche keeping Phileas Fogg in the two path, Velázquez had Locked (6-5) on the rail until the final furlong. That was where he switched paths and took the two-time Grade 1 winner to the outside of Phileas Fogg to complete his run to victory.

Locked finished with a time of 1:48.11 on the fast main track and paid $4.46. Phileas Fogg was second. Post Time (7-2) was third throughout. There was no place or show wagering after Awesome Aaron, Willy D’s, Film Star and Gould’s Gold were scratched after being cross-entered in other races.

The win was the first for Locked since he took the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in March. He finished fourth in the Alysheba (G2) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard and third in the Suburban (G2) on July 4 at Saratoga.

R Disaster sprints to Gallant Bloom victory

R Disaster (1-1) took the lead shortly after the start and led the field of eight the rest of the way in her 3 1/2-length win in the $250,000 Gallant Bloom (G2) for fillies and mares sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs.

Senza Parole (9-2) who briefly reared in the gate before the start, was first out of the gate, but she was quickly overtaken by R Disaster. On her way to victory, the 4-year-old Awesome Slew filly trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. carried José Ortiz through fractions of 22.10, 44.73 and 1:08.53 before stopping the clock at 1:14.78.

Patricia Ann (27-1) finished second, Sterling Silver (5-1) third and Impel (6-1) fourth.

R Disaster is owned by Averill Racing, Two Eight Racing and Anthony Mattera. She had finished second in her three previous graded stakes. Her last race before Saturday was a six-furlong allowance race which she won in the slop Aug. 20 at Saratoga.

Alogon wins by neck in Turf Sprint

In his seven races at Aqueduct, 6-year-old Alogon (9-2) has hit the board every time. He did it emphatically Saturday, charging down the middle of the outer-turf course to win by a neck in the six-furlong, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint (G3).

Trained by Edward Allard for breeder-owner Charles Matses, the California Chrome gelding stalked three wide up the backstretch before jockey Dylan Davis circled for home and collared pace-setting Dancing Buck (5-1) in the final sixteenth of a mile.

Bold Journey (8-1) closed from last in the field of seven to place second. Twenty Six Black (4-5) raced in mid-pack under Flavien Prat but had only a mild closing kick to finish third. Senbei (10-1), who had been second early, faded to fourth.

The winning time was 1:07.63 after early splits of 22.02, 44.20 and 55.76 on a course rated firm.

Alogon had been 0-for-4 in graded stakes. He was coming off a close, second-place finish to Doncho three weeks ago in the black-type, 5 1/2-furlong Da Hoss at Colonial Downs. Saturday marked his first victory since the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship over the same course and distance in November.

The undercard stakes supported the featured $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1).