Marconi goes all the way to win Grand Prix American Jockey Club

Off as the 7-5 favorite, Marconi, who has made a new home running at marathon distances, also cashed a nice check Saturday when setting the pace and coasting home to win the inaugural $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational at Belmont Park.

The 4-year-old son of Tapit — well-known as a $2 million sales purchase and half-sibling to Mucho Macho Man — finished up in 2:28.07 for the 1 1/8 miles under Jose Lezcano.

"The horse inside didn't want to go, so I went to the lead and he stayed the same the whole way around," Lezcano said after prevailing by three lengths. "He got into a good rhythm and once he got going, he was comfortable."

Marconi led a 1-2 finish for the Todd Pletcher barn with You’re to Blame second and Rocketry third in the field of six older horses.

Campaigned by Bridlewood Farm and Coolmore connections, Marconi improved his record to 5-2-1 in 12 starts and won his third stakes race of the season. The gray was off a bit slow before sent to the front by Lezcano, going a half mile in 50.51 seconds and the mile in 1:40.15.

He returned $4.90 to win.

Marconi "seems to like this race course," said Byron Hughes, assistant to Pletcher, with Marconi also having won the Brooklyn (G2) at this trip back on Belmont Stakes Day.

"He didn't break real sharp, but Jose did a good job of getting him up there and getting him in a comfortable rhythm. It wasn't ideal but when I saw the first fractions in 25 and change, I got a little more comfortable. He was able to pull away there from the group at the top of the stretch and win nicely."

The Grand Prix was the first stakes on a card also including the new Jockey Club Oaks and Derby for 3-year-olds on turf.