Goombada Guska Takes Stymie

Goombada Guska got a patient ride and a perfect trip Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, taking the lead in the stretch and holding off a late charge from More Than a Reason to win the $65,000 Stymie.

With 2-5 favorite Remand under heavy pressure from Masala through the early going, jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr. settled Goombada Guska in third, five lengths behind the leaders, as they dueled through an opening quarter in 23.16, a half in 48.88 and three-quarters in 1:13.81. Rounding the turn, Goombada Guska began advancing on the embattled front-runners, forging to the lead inside the quarter-pole with enough left to turn back a determined bid from More Than a Reason for a half-length victory.

His winning time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:51.53 over the fast inner track.

“The race set up for him perfectly,” said Valdivia. “I was hoping that somebody would put a little pressure on Remand, but I didn’t think he’d get that much pressure! What can I say – I had a perfect trip and my horse was ready to run a big race.”

The victory was the second in four starts over the Big A’s inner track for the 4-year-old New Jersey-bred. He won the Cosmic Bob overnight stakes on December 15, was fourth in the Evening Attire on January 15, and then second to Modern Cowboy in his most recent start, the Bald Eagle overnight stakes, on January 29.

“The horse has to have something to run at, and he got it today,” said Scott Volk, who trains Goombada Guska for Navesink Breeders. “It took us a while to figure him out. Jose fits this horse very well; he’s a patient rider.”

The 5-2 second choice, Goombada Guska paid $7.10 for a $2 win bet to his backers in the crowd of 5,852 as he extended his record to 5-3-2 from 19 starts. With the winner’s purse of $39,000, he has now earned $262,000.

More Than a Reason was 2 ¾ lengths ahead of Masala, with Remand another 6 ¼ lengths back. Arson Squad was scratched.