Jamaica: Western Aristocrat Wires Field

Western Aristocrat controlled the pace and turned back a challenge from favored Brilliant Speed to collect his first Grade 1 victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park.

In the hands red-hot rider Corey Nakatani, who collected his fifth of six victories on the day in the Jamaica, Western Aristocrat was sent straight to the lead where he strolled through opening fractions of 26.27 and 52.20. With Brilliant Speed drawing alongside Western Aristocrat turning for home, the winner was let out and went on to a one-length victory, stopping the clock at 1:50.34 for 1 1/8 miles over Belmont’s “firm” inner turf course.

“The plan was to keep him happy, wherever he was comfortable,” Nakatani said. “I really didn’t want to be on the lead, but we found ourselves up on the lead because there was no pace. It actually turned out for the better because he’s able to do what he’s able to do, and when I called on him he cut and re-broke and ran a big race.”

Sent off at 7-1 in the field of seven sophomores, Western Aristocrat returned $16 for a $2 win bet.

Owned by Vinery Stables, Western Aristocrat started his career in England under the care of trainer Jeremy Noseda. The son of Mr. Greeley won three races in the UK, breaking his maiden on turf last October at Newmarket and collecting two victories this year, most recently a one-mile allowance score over the artificial surface at Kempton Park on September 15.

“He’s done very well [in the U.K.],” said Tom Ludt, president of Vinery, which also bred the colt through Grapestock, LLC. “Jeremy [Noseda] gets all of our European horses but he used to train in America, and he said to me, ‘Tom, I think this horse will really blossom in America,’ so that was the plan. If he thinks they fit over here, he lets them come back. I love him for that. As long as he ran well – and he proved he did that – we really don’t have a short-term plan. We’ll keep him here [with Steve Asmussen]. He’ll definitely keep racing; he’s been sound. We’ll consider the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but we’ll let the horse tell us.”

Now 4-0-2 from seven starts, Western Aristocrat more than tripled his earnings to $194,637 with the $150,000 winner’s share of the Jamaica purse. 

Completing the trifecta was longshot Wilkinson, who was followed home by Top Surprize, Sky Blazer, Casino Host and Seal Cove.