Ortiz Pilots Trio of NY Claiming Champs
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NYRA
Owner Michael Dubb and trainers David Jacobson and Gustavo Rodriguez each won two races with jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. securing a riding hat trick on Saturday in the inaugural New York Claiming Championships. The day featured 10 stakes races worth $710,000 for claiming horses at Aqueduct Racetrack.
In today's opener, the $80,000 Karakorum Elektra for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward, 3-5 post-time favorite Before You Know It quickly took the lead and never looked back, completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:48.16 with jockey Manuel Franco aboard.
Shipping in from Laurel Park for trainer Claudio Gonzalez and owner Charles Jones Sr., the 5-year-old Hard Spun mare returned $3.20 for a $2 wager while increasing her career earnings to $273,083.
Room For Me tracked a hurried pace of 22.82 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.74 for the half set by longshot Sweet Sway before making his move for the lead at the eighth pole and romping to a 13 ½-length victory in the $50,000 Videogenic. Making his first start for owner and trainer David Jacobson, Room For Me completed the six furlongs in 1:11.20 and returned $7.30 for a $2 wager as the 5-2 favorite. His winning time for the six furlongs was 1:11.20.
Following back-to-back disappointing starts on off tracks in the Native Dancer on January 3 at Laurel Park and the Evening Attire on February 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack, Stormin Monarcho welcomed a return to Saturday's fast track at the Big A to win the day's richest event, the $100,000 Mr. Sinatra.
Trained by David Jacobson for owner Lawrence Roman, the bay gelding broke alertly from the gate under jockey Cornelio Velasquez to comfortably settle in second behind moderate fractions of 24.04 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 47.43 for the half set by Celebrated Talent. As the pair turned for home, Stormin Monarcho quickly assumed command and opened up to win by 7 ¾ lengths.
In collecting his first win of the year, Stormin Monarcho returned $5.10 for a $2 wager and increased his career earnings to $483,281.
The Chris Englehart-trained Pebble Beach Baby was able to work a perfect trip with a last-to-first move under jockey Jose Ortiz to win the $60,000 Sis City. Stalking a field of seven until a hole opened along the rail in deep stretch, the 5-year-old mare rallied to best pace-setting Resentment and win by 1 ¼ lengths. Owned by Marisa Lizza, the daughter of Rock Hard Ten completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:49.82 while returning $6.70 for a $2 win wager.
The inaugural running of the $50,000 Kelly Kip for 4-year-olds and up was dominated from the start by N.F.'s Destiny, who broke alertly from the gate and led every step under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to win by 1 ¼ lengths. Trained by Gustavo Rodriguez, N. F.'s Destiny completed the six furlongs in 1:11.78 and returned $7 for a $2 win bet. It was his second victory of the year in three starts for owner Michael Dubb.
My Savannah Belle angled off the rail in midstretch and onto a two-length victory over Here's Zealicious in the $70,000 Xtra Heat for filly and mare sprinters. Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and trained by Assaf Ronen, the 4-year-old Afleet Alex filly completed the six furlongs in 1:13.43 and returned $5.30 as the 8-5 choice. Overall, she is now 3-1-0 from five career starts.
Piquant emerged victorious from a five-way battle down the lane and pulled clear in the final jumps to take the $70,000 Peeping Tom by three lengths, returning $17.40 as the first double-digit winner of the afternoon. Trained by Richard Stoklosa and ridden by Fernando Jara, the 7-year-old Arch gelding ran the six furlongs in 1:11.84 to notch his second victory of the year in three starts at the Big A.
Owner Michael Dubb and trainer Gustavo Rodriguez teamed for their second win of the day, and Irad Ortiz, Jr. made it a riding triple as long shot Days Ride prevailed by a nose in a thrilling three-way photo to take the $80,000 Stud Muffin.
Making his first start for his new connections after being claimed for $20,000 on January 29, Days Ride was content to run in fifth as Readthebyline led through an opening quarter in 24.03 seconds and a half in 47.85. Moving up between horses as the field straightened for home, Days Ride outkicked Bemata and Wealth to Me in a furious fight to the finish, completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.47 and returning $45.60 for a $2 win bet.
Favored Doubledown Again held off Energetico in the final yards to win the $90,000 Caixa Eletronica, running his record to 3-1-1 in six starts since being claimed for $50,000 by trainer Michele Nevin for J.W. Singer at Saratoga Race Course. A 5-year-old gelded son of Rockport Harbor, Doubledown Again ran the six furlongs in 1:12.32 under jockey Jose Ortiz and boosted his career earnings to $293,053.
The afternoon came to a close with favored Tizmas leading from gate-to-wire to take the $60,000 More To Tell for his first win in three starts this year. Ridden by Junior Alvarado and trained by Jason Servis, the 6-year-old Tiznow gelding rolled through fractions of 23.13, 47.90 and 1:13.16 and turned back a stubborn Lucky Lotto through the final yards to win by a half-length in 1:47.22. The 2-1 favorite, Tizmas returned $6.70 for a $2 win bet and extended his bankroll to $248,242.
Source: NYRA Communications
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