Cloud Control, Louisville First win NYSS races Sunday at Belmont Park

Chester and Mary Broman's Cloud Control surged past Bust Another down the stretch to draw clear to a one-length victory in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid for 3-year-olds in the first of two New York Stallion Series races on Sunday's card at Belmont Park.

It was the second straight victory for the John Kimmel-trained bay colt. Cloud Control's winning time for seven furlongs over the Widener turf was 1:21.85.

Jockey Angel Arroyo picked up his second win of the day by keeping Cloud Control off the fractions of 23.21 and 46.20 seconds set by Sudden Surprise. Bust Another, trained by Michael Pino, took the lead at the top of the stretch before Cloud Control's late flourish past the sixteenth poll earned him his second victory in three career starts.

"I got a very good trip," Arroyo said. "My horse broke great and I put him towards the rail. I got to save ground and wait for the stretch where he switched leads and took off easy. It's only his third race and he keeps getting better and better."

Cloud Control, the 6-1 wagering choice, returned $14.60 for a $2 win wager and earned $60,000. The win almost doubled his career winnings in extending his total to $96,172.

"I thought he would give a good effort," Kimmel said. "I really didn't know if I had a good handle on who his competition would be, but I knew there probably couldn't be a whole lot of horses as good as he is. I think he showed today that he's got a lot of talent."

Cloud Control, who posted a maiden-breaking victory on May 22 at 40-1 after Cloontia was disqualified from first to second, has now won at distances of both a mile and seven furlongs.

"I think [he could go further]," Kimmel said. "He's a big, strong horse. He was injured as a 2-year-old, he had an injury to his hock; and it was just nice to see a horse like that come back. He's a big stout horse with limited experience and to see him move forward like he did today, I think he'll have a nice future."

Bust Another finished in the money for the seventh time in nine career starts. Go Go Lucky, trained by Mike Maker, came in third, followed by morning-line favorite Silent Waters, Dearie, Spooked Out and Sudden Surprise.

Four races later, RAP Racing's Louisville First bested a field of nine by a half-length to win the $100,000 NYSS Cupecoy's Joy for 3-year-old fillies over seven furlongs on the Widener turf.

The George Weaver-trained Louisville First hit the wire in 1:21.97, moving past Little Bear Cat and Frosty Margarita in the stretch for her first career victory on turf.

It was the first win of the year for Louisville First, who finished third in a six-furlong allowance race on June 15 in her 2016 - and turf - debut. The bay filly paid $30 on a $2 win wager and earned $60,000 to increase her career earnings to $133,360.

"Her last race, her first race on the turf, she ran very well," said Blair Golen, assistant to Weaver. "She came out of that race good and she's fit, so why not? We're just really happy with her and she's come a long way. She was a little nervous last year but this year, she's come back into racing just comfortable. She does everything right in the morning. She's great to be around."

Jockey Eric Cancel won for the second straight time, keeping his charge off the early fractions of 22.75, 45.62 and 1:09.80 set by program favorite Libreta.

"She warmed up really good when we were on the track so I knew she would be ready today," Cancel said. "She felt really prepared, I didn't have to ask her early because I knew I had a lot of horse. I just remained patient and she really went off again and extended in the stretch."

Louisville First, whose only previous win came in a maiden-breaking victory at Belmont on October 2, 2015, has won three of her last five starts.

Little Bear Cat took second by a nose in a photo finish with Frosty Margarita. Owned and trained by David Cannizzo, Little Bear Cat is 2-1-0 in her last four starts.

Frosty Margarita, trained by Rudy Rodriguez, crossed the wire less than a length behind the winner in her turf debut to finish third.

Baronet checked in fourth, followed by Libreta, Ametrine, Free N Clear, Wonderment and Naked Empress.

NYSS races are restricted to the progeny of stallions based in New York.

Source: NYRA Communications