Sent off the 2-1 choice in Sunday’s opening New York Stallion S., the
$100,000
Perfect
Arc division, Sovereign Stable and Gatsas Stables’ CHAMPAGNE ENDING (Precise
End) began a stakes day dominated by favorites. With Pablo Fragoso in the irons,
the three-year-old filly took the lead soon after the start and was never headed
en route to an easy 6 3/4-length victory. The John Terranova-trained chestnut
set splits of :23 3/5, :48 2/5 and 1:12 2/5 before finishing a mile on the firm
Aqueduct turf in 1:36 4/5.
Champagne Ending paid $6.10, $3.60 and $3 for her easy score over 12-1
longshot Forbidden Sea, who gave back $10 and $5.60 while ending the $66.50
exacta. The winner recorded her first stakes win in this spot after placing third
in the Niagara S. during the summer and now owns a 15-3-2-5 mark with $152,223
in lifetime earnings.
John T. Becker’s homebred CLASSIC PACK (Regal Classic) was sent off the heavy
even-money pick in the $122,500
Great White Way division and didn’t disappoint his backers, leading the way
through fractions of :22 1/5, :45 1/5 and :57 3/5 before crossing under the line
1 1/2 lengths in front. Giving Fragoso his second straight winner, the Ramon
Hernandez-conditioned juvenile ran six furlongs on the fast main track in 1:11
1/5.
Classic Pack adds this one to a win in the New York Breeders’ Futurity and a
third in the Sleepy Hollow S. He gave back $4.10, $2.40 and $2.10, and now
sports a record of 5-3-0-1, $260,050.
Our Canterbury Stables’ RETRIBUTION (Rob ‘n Gin) continued the trends of favorites
winning wire-to-wire in the $100,000
Cormorant division. With Cornelio Velasquez holding the reins, the bay
three-year-old went in :23 1/5, :47 1/5 and 1:12 1/5 before stopping the clock
for a mile in 1:37 1/5. The John Hertler charge earned his first black-type
victory when finishing 3 1/4 lengths ahead of his nearest rival as the 5-2
choice.
Retribution was worth $7, $3.60 and $2.80 and moved his record to $191,650,
14-4-5-1. This was the gelding’s third straight win and sixth consecutive top
two finish.
Whos Next Racing Team’s PRINCESS SWEET (Precise End) remains perfect from two
starts after taking the $125,000
Fifth
Avenue division under Velasquez. The Linda Rice trainee broke the trend of
favorites and pacesetters on the day, taking the lead at the half-mile point as
the near 7-2 third choice. She easily pulled away in the six-furlong test, 4 3/4
lengths clear at the wire in a time of 1:11 3/5.
This was Princess Sweet’s second career start in three days, as she broke her
maiden by 9 1/4 lengths over the track on Thursday. The chestnut lass has now
earned $99,600 and rewarded her faithful supporters with $8.90, $5.70 and $3.20
payouts.