Blind Ambition relishes cut back in distance in Elusive Quality

Gainesway Stable's Blind Ambition relished the cutback in distance, going gate-to-wire to post a two-length win in the fifth running of the $125,000 Elusive Quality for 4-year-olds and up on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Breaking from the rail, the 4-year-old Tapit colt capitalized on the 10-horse field's lack of speed, surging to the front in going a quarter-mile in 22.24 seconds and the half in 45.09. Out of the turn, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez continued to guide Blind Ambition from the inside, building on his lead past the eighth pole to complete seven furlongs in 1:20.65 on the Widener turf labeled good.

"We talked about it in the paddock, we didn't think there was a lot of speed in the race," said Velazquez, who won twice on the day and registered the 5,900th victory of his career. "When we broke he got so well out of there. We got to the lead and that didn't bother him, and he kicked home pretty well. I rode him first time out a year and a half ago and I don't know if he wants to go too far, but certainly at sprint distances he can compete and show the best of his ability, like today."

The Todd Pletcher trainee won for the first time in three starts in 2018 and was running for the first time since finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf at one mile on March 3 at Gulfstream Park. Off at 5-1, Blind Ambition paid $12.40 on a $2 win bet. He increased his career earnings to $249,135.

Blind Ambition won for the first time since a half-length score against allowance company on October 5 at Belmont. It was also his first stakes win since the Quick Call on August 9 at Saratoga Race Course.

"We were hoping he would break sharp coming out of the one hole," said Byron Hughes, assistant to Pletcher. "There wasn't a whole lot of speed coming into the race so when he broke well, that really helped Johnny out and he helped him gave him a great ride. He cut back from a mile for this, and I think six and a half, to seven or mile is right up his alley."

Conquest Panthera, trained by Mark Casse, rallied to take second, finishing 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Undrafted.

Ready for Rye, Field of Courage, Commute, Great Wide Open, Commend, Great Stuff and Kharafa completed the order of finish.

Blind Ambition's win triggered a Pick 6 carryover of $38,003 into Sunday's card at Belmont. The sequence began in Race 5 with Commandeering (No. 5, $10,40) followed by Uncle Gio (No. 8, $6.00) in Race 6 and Satisfy (No. 1A, $11) in Race 7. Jewel Can Disco (No. 3, $12.60) captured Race 8 and 8-5 post time favorite Dance Track (No. 1A, $5.40) took the day's finale. 

Live racing is scheduled to resume on Sunday with a first post of 1:30 p.m. Sunday's Pick 6 wager will begin in Race 4 with an approximate post time of 3:09 p.m. The sequence will include the $100,000 License Fee, carded as Race 8.

Wagering on the Pick 6 is available through NYRA Bets, on-track, and at simulcast facilities across the country.