Dearly Precious Belongs to Gracer

Gracer looked the part of a 1-5 shot on Saturday afternoon, cruising around the track en route to a facile score in the $100,000 Dearly Precious for 3-year-old filly sprinters at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Away best of the field of five, the daughter of Exchange Rate was sent straight to the lead by jockey Alex Cintron and carved out splits of 23.35 seconds for a quarter-mile and 46.53 for a half. Uncontested throughout, the swift filly bounded away from her competition in the stretch to win by 10 ¼ lengths.

"Everything went great," said Cintron. "She was on the lead, easy. Today she went :23, :46. Usually, she goes very quick. She was very relaxed today, and I didn't even ask her."

Trained by Tony Dutrow for Team D and Three Chimneys Racing LLC, Gracer's win was her third straight, all at six furlongs, and fourth overall from six starts at six different racetracks. The victory raised her earnings to $243,000.

Dutrow, like Cintron, was impressed by the ease with which Gracer won, but was not willing to hand her the race before the gates opened.

"It appeared to be very easy for her," said the trainer. "She broke well and went very easily around there. I've watched a 1-9 horse get beat so many times. They all have to run around there; nothing's taken for granted in this business."

The overwhelming favorite, Gracer returned $2.40 for a $2 win bet, and covered the six furlongs in 1:10.36.

Sustainable, who tracked the early pace set by Gracer, checked in second, and it was another four lengths back to Go West Marie in third. Bridget Moloney and Skye Saratoga completed the order of finish.