America goes last to first in Affectionately; Belle Gallantey fifth

America nipped Penwith at the wire and extended her winning streak to three (NYRA/Coglianese Photography/Joe Labozzetta)

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s homebred America nabbed pacesetter Penwith on the
line to earn her first stakes score in Thursday’s $100,000

Affectionately Stakes at Aqueduct. Belle Gallantey, the 3-5 favorite in the
New Year’s Day feature, faded to fifth after tracking the pace.

A daughter of A.P. Indy from the family of 2007 Belmont-winning champion Rags
to Riches, America was a $725,000 RNA as a Keeneland September yearling. The
newly-turned four-year-old has been highly tried over her career, with her best
efforts being a third in last spring’s Gulfstream Park Oaks and a coveted Grade
1 placing when third in the June 28 Mother Goose.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott lowered her sights of late, and America has
responded by compiling a three-race winning streak. After romping by 6 3/4
lengths in an entry-level, off-the-turf allowance on Aqueduct’s main oval
November 2, she came right back in a second-level event on the inner December 3,
and made it a hat trick here.

Patiently handled by Junior Alvarado, the 4-1 third choice lagged in last, as
many as nine lengths off the steady pace. Penwith, part of the Godolphin entry
who went off as the second choice at 4-1, was enjoying an uncontested lead
through splits of :23 4/5, :47 4/5 and 1:12 1/5. Belle Gallantey, the Delaware
Handicap and Beldame heroine who was last seen finishing ninth in the Breeders’
Cup Distaff, gave early chase before backing out.