Cocked and Loaded, Cavorting Win at Belmont
A fast start and a faster finish propelled Chicago invader Cocked and Loaded to a half-length victory over Paynes Prairie in the $250,000 Tremont for 2-year-olds Friday at Belmont Park.
The 118th running of the Tremont was the second of five stakes, three of them graded, on the 10-race program, the second of the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival presented by DraftKings that concludes with Belmont Stakes Day on Saturday.
Making just his second career start, Cocked and Loaded ran 5 ½ furlongs on a fast main track in 1:04.17 and returned $7.40 as the 5-2 second choice in a field of seven juveniles. The outcome gave jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. a sweep of Friday's early stakes, having won the $150,000 Jersey Girl with Cavorting one race prior.
"My horse broke sharp on the lead and then slowed down like the trainer told me," Ortiz said. "I just followed [his] instructions, 'Sit him behind the speed,' and then when I got clear he took off."
Purchased privately following a professional debut victory April 9 at Keeneland and sent to trainer Larry Rivelli at Arlington Park, Cocked and Loaded sprang quickest from the gate out of post 1 and led through the early jumps before dropping in behind Cat Tree and Paynes Prairie, who dueled through an opening quarter-mile in 22.67 seconds and a half in 45.94.
Paynes Prairie took over the top spot as Cat Tree began to fade once they turned for home. Ortiz moved Cocked and Loaded into contention on the outside and they closed with a flourish in the final sixteenth of a mile.
Sent off at 16-1, Paynes Prairie was a decisive second, 3 ¾ lengths ahead of Swipe. It was two lengths back to Cat Tree, who was followed under the line by Banree, the lone filly in the field; even-money favorite Uncle Vinny and Dr. Shane
"He had been training great and I had a lot of confidence in him, which is why I brought him here from Chicago," Rivelli said. "I told the kid to sit behind horses and he rode him great. I couldn't have been happier. He broke so sharp today and was in front and the kid rode a great race because nine times out of 10 they probably would have wanted to keep him on the lead. Going 5 ½ [furlongs] the rider would normally think he'd want to hold his position, but he buried him back there and then made his move. This horse is the real deal."
Cavorting kicked off Friday's stakes action in thrilling fashion, reeling in favored Enchanting Lady with a sustained stretch run before surging past in the final 50 yards to win the Jersey Girl for 3-year-old fillies.
The lone graded stakes winner in the field, Stonestreet Stable's Cavorting ($9.20) ran six furlongs on the main track in 1:09.08 for her first victory since the Grade 2 Adirondack last August at Saratoga Race Course following two failed attempts at a mile.
"She was great at 2 and I think we may have tried to lengthen her out a little too soon," Stonestreet's Barbara Banke said. "She didn't really care for Florida but she loves New York, so she'll be racing here probably the rest of the year. She's back and I'm excited."
Friday was just the fifth career start for Cavorting, a bay daughter of Grade 1 winner Bernardini who has twice come back from lengthy layoffs. She missed 4 ½ months between the Grade 1 Frizette last October and the Grade 2 Davona Dale February 21 at Gulfstream Park, and another 3 ½ months to the Jersey Girl.
"She's another one that's taken a little bit of work because she ran poorly here in the slop and then at Gulfstream," winning trainer Kiaran McLaughin said. "Luckily, we have patient owners that allowed us to figure her out. She's a nice filly. It's nice to get her back in the winner's circle."
Spark, a 25-1 long shot ridden by apprentice Eric Cancel, jumped out to the front and led through a quarter-mile in 22.28 seconds and a half in 56.79, with Enchanting Lady stalking to her outside and Cavorting rating comfortably in mid-pack.
Cavorting and Ortiz swung four wide to launch their bid at the top of the stretch as Enchanting Lady moved past a stubborn Spark. Cavorting steadily gained ground down the lane and hit the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of Enchanting Lady. It was three lengths back to Spark in third and another 3 ½ to I'm a Looker in fourth. Coco's Wildcat, Enchantress and Noble and a Beauty completed the order of finish.
"I got a very good trip," Ortiz said. "My filly was ready today. She broke real fast and I got my position, and then I sat and followed [Enchanting Lady] and [Enchantress] and in the stretch I switched to the clear. When I asked her she just took off and I had plenty of horse."
Source: NYRA Communications