|
|
Strong Contender earns first stakes win in Dwyer John Oxley's STRONG CONTENDER (Maria's Mon) advanced through an opening on the rail on the far turn to grab the lead and drew away from his opponents in the stretch of the $150,000 Dwyer S. (G2), winning the Independence Day feature at Belmont Park by a resounding 7 3/4 lengths. The John Ward-trained colt notched his first stakes victory and improved his overall mark to 5-3-0-2 when finishing 1 1/16 miles over the fast track in 1:45 1/5. "Today, he really performed," jockey Edgar Prado commented. "He's the kind of horse that sometimes shows speed and sometimes doesn't. He is such a big horse and he covers so much ground. I like the feeling he gave me." An impressive winner in his first two career starts, Strong Contender was rated as a top contender for the Kentucky Derby (G1) earlier this year but had his Derby hopes dashed by a third-place finish in the Blue Grass S. (G1). Following a brief freshening, he finished a disappointing third in the Peter Pan S. (G2) after dueling on the front end early. The chestnut lived up to his past billings in the Dwyer. "He just loomed and on the turn, he blew by," Ward said. "This is probably a style that is more suitable for him. Just laying back and not being in contention early." Keyed Entry (Honour and Glory), the 9-5 favorite, ducked in at the start but quickly rushed up to take the lead through an opening quarter in :23 1/5 and a half-mile in :46 2/5. Strong Contender rated close to the pace during the early stages and then advanced through a seam on the inside to grab the lead by a head as he reached the six-furlong mark in 1:11 4/5. Doc Cheney (Saint Ballado) came rallying from off the pace on the far outside as they entered the stretch drive, but Strong Contender found another gear, passing a mile in 1:38 1/5 with a widening advantage. Bred in Kentucky by Haras Santa Maria de Araras, Strong Contender was purchased for $800,000 at the 2005 Keeneland April Two-Year-Old in Training Sale and has now earned $221,000. He is the second foal out of the multiple stakes-placed Kopenhagen (Dynaformer), who has also produced the unraced two-year-old colt Silver Light (Silver Deputy) and a 2006 colt by Hennessy. This is the same female family of Argentine Group 1 winners Eterna Fe (Arg) (Good Bloke) and Eterna Girl (Sonus). Sent off the 2-1 second choice, Strong Contender returned $6.20, $3.40 and $2.80. Doc Cheney easily held second by 5 3/4 lengths at 10-1 and gave back $7.30 and $4.10. Da Stoops (Distorted Humor), who ranged up into contention on the far turn at 5-2 but lacked a response in the stretch, finished third and paid $3.20. The exacta totaled $34.40 and the 4-6-5 trifecta $138.50. Regent Spirit (Concerto), Dontfearthereaper (Stormin Fever) and Keyed Entry rounded out the order of finish. Ward said they'll review their options before deciding where to send Strong Contender next.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
