No Advantage springs 13-1 surprise in Schaefer

Last updated: 5/16/09 1:23 PM

No Advantage scored his first stakes win in the Schaefer
(Jim McCue Photography/Maryland Jockey Club)

In view of the fact that NO ADVANTAGE (Posse) had never won a stakes, and had
been well beaten in his only prior attempts at two turns, he was overlooked at
13-1 in the wagering for Saturday’s $100,000
William
Donald Schaefer S. (G3) at Pimlico. The Stephanie Beattie charge proved that
assessment all wrong, however, when driving to a 2 3/4-length score beneath J.D.
Acosta. Owned by Suarez Racing Inc., Joseph Besecker and Kirk Wycoff, No
Advantage completed 1 1/16 miles on the fast track in 1:42 3/5 to pay $28.40, $9
and $5.80.

In the opening stages, No Advantage was reserved off the early pace on the
outside, while the front-running Real Merchant (Chi) (Merchant of Venice) carved
out an initial quarter in :24 2/5. Acosta gradually allowed the eventual winner
to creep closer, advancing to third through a half-mile in :48, and by the time
Real Merchant reached six furlongs in 1:11 2/5, No Advantage was breathing down
his neck.

The leading pair slugged it out at the top of the stretch, but No Advantage
wore down Real Merchant at the eighth-pole, established control and drew clear.
While Real Merchant kept on gamely on the inside, 9-5 favorite Ea (Dynaformer)
finally began to make headway and threatened to snatch second. The two hit the
wire in unison, dead-heating for runner-up honors.

The 4-1 Real Merchant returned $3 and $3.60, and the exotics with him in the
second spot totaled $73 (exacta), $176.60 (trifecta) and $1,348.20 (7-2-3-5
superfecta). Ea rewarded his backers with $2.40 and $3 and ended the $47.80
exacta. With Ea in the second spot, the trifecta was worth $145.80 and the
superfecta was good for $583.40 (7-3-2-5).

Another 2 3/4 lengths back in fourth came Richard’s Kid (Lemon Drop Kid), who
edged Ready Set (Touch Gold) by a nose. Early stalkers Crimson Comic (Distorted
Humor) and Cave’s Valley (Stephen Got Even) faded and brought up the rear.

No Advantage was originally trained by Doug O’Neill, for whom he finished
third in the Kentucky Cup Sprint (G3) last September. Following a third-place
effort in a Fair Grounds allowance in January, the four-year-old was transferred
to Beattie. No Advantage went on to win three of his first four outings for his
new conditioner, starting with an 11 1/2-length allowance romp at Charles Town.
Beattie stretched him out to nine furlongs in the Charles Town Classic last time
out, but he never got involved en route to a fifth-place finish. His first
stakes coup improved his record to 13-5-1-2, $167,160.

Bred by Viking Stud Inc. in Kentucky, No Advantage has gone through the sales
ring three times, most recently selling for a bargain $14,000 as a Fasig-Tipton
Midlantic two-year-old. The dark bay is the first foal from the winning Tactical
Advantage mare Prime Advantage, a half-sister to stakes winner and stakes
producer Sweeping (End Sweep). This is the family of recent Kentucky Juvenile S.
(G3) victress Aegean (Northern Afleet) as well as Grade 3 scorers Sky Terrace
(Skywalker), I Rejoice (Lord Gaylord), I’m a Thriller (Tri Jet) and Millencolin
(Dehere). No Advantage has a yearling full sister and a 2009 half-sister by
Badge of Silver.