March edges Cinco Charlie in Woody Stephens; Competitive Edge last

March edges Cinco Charlie in Woody Stephens; Competitive
Edge last

March came through to the inside of Cinco Charlie (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos) Robert V. LaPenta’s March (Blame) rallied to catch Cinco Charlie (Indian Charlie) in the final strides, posting a nose victory in Saturday’s $490,000 Woody Stephens (G2) at Belmont Park. The hot-riding Irad Ortiz Jr. was up on the Chad Brown-trained colt. Competitive Edge (Super Saver), the 2-5 favorite among six three-year-olds, never threatened and retreated to last in the latter stages, sustaining his first setback from five starts. March was making his first start since posting a 9-1 upset in the April 4 Bay Shore (G3) at Aqueduct and was overlooked at 10-1 in the Woody Stephens, returning a $22.80 win mutuel. “Irad rode a perfect race,” Brown said. “This horse has been training really well, and we’ve figured out a few things about this horse. Obviously, the distance — he’s a come-from-behind sprinter — and he runs really fresh.” March completed seven furlongs in 1:21 1/5 over the fast track.

Ready for Rye (City Zip) showed speed from the start, establishing splits in
:22 1/5 and :45 while being tracked by Cinco Charlie. March saved ground along
the rail in fourth down the backstretch.

The pacesetter gave way leaving the far turn, with Cinco Charlie advancing to
take a half-length advantage with a furlong remaining, but March came charging
up the rail in deep stretch to nail his rival on the wire.

“When we got to the stretch he took off,” Ortiz said. “He was ready, the
trainer did a great job.”

Cinco Charlie wound up 5 1/2 lengths better than third-placer Ready for Rye.

Bred in Kentucky by Lakland, March sold for $320,000 as a weanling at the
2012 Keeneland November sale. Out of Lifeinthefastlane (Unbridled’s Song), the
dark bay is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Eightyfiveinafifty (Forest Camp).

March broke his maiden second-time out over Aqueduct’s inner track in January
and has now earned $512,500 from a 5-3-1-0 record.

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