An evenly matched field of seven was entered for the 73rd running of the Grade 3 $100,000 Westchester Handicap at Aqueduct today. The one mile race will go off as the eighth race of the live nine race card, which will also offer wagering on the Illinois Derby and the Lone Star Derby, plus a special pick three combining those two races and the Santa Anita Derby.
The starting highweight of the race is Milwaukee Brew at 117 pounds. The Frank Stronach owned horse is making his seasonal debut. He won the Grade 3 Marine Stakes and the Grade 2 Ohio Derby and was third in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational last year while under the tutelage of Tino Attard. This year he will be trained by Joe Orseno, who came in second in this race last year with Golden Missile. He is the morning line favorite at 9-5 and Willie Martinez is giving up seven mounts at Delaware Park on opening day to ride Milwaukee Brew here.
Postponed ships up from Gulfstream for his return to stakes company. The Scotty Schulhofer trainee comes off a good second in an allowance race to Traditionally, who is entered in the Oaklawn Handicap later in the day. He will be adding blinkers for this spot in hopes he can emulate another Schulhofer trainee when he added blinkers, Lemon Drop Kid. Aaron Gryder picks up the mount.
The main speed of the race should be Country Only. He comes off a good second place finish in allowance company going seven furlongs. He is trained by Carlos Morales, who trained the winner of this race last year, Yankee Victor. Heberto Castillo Jr. has the mount and will carry 114 pounds.
1ST RACE – Balladeer set fast fractions, but on the far turn he was done and was passed by Alfajr. In the stretch, Alfajr has drawn off to a lengthy advantage but then started to get leg weary himself. He was begging to get caught by anyone, but he had drawn off enough to hold off the rest of the weary field and win the race. The final quarter of the mile event went in :28 2/5 and it’s safe to say these horses don’t want to go this far.
4TH RACE – No Alibis, who has a history of poor starts from the gate, showed improvement and broke with the field. He angled inside when entering the clubhouse turn and stalked the pace. On the far turn, he went around the tiring Patriot American. He then checked slightly to avoid running up on the heels of Keytotheuniverse but then found a nice sized hole to run through on the rail. He was making his run towards the lead when Pegs Halo cut in sharply nearing the top of the stretch and forced No Alibis to check again. He could never regain his full momentum in the stretch and could only get up to finish second.
5TH RACE – Favored Caymus pressed the early pace and then raced between horses on the far turn. Turning for home Caymus was on even terms with That’s a Nono, but then had to deal with That’s A Nono weaving in and out constantly through the stretch drive, brushing him throughout. Hondle had clear run on the outside in the stretch and went by the two horses for the victory while Caymus was finally able to shake loose from That’s A Nono and end up second. Saratoga Nights stumbled badly at the start and Jose Espinoza was lucky to stay aboard, but in doing so he lost his irons and ripped the blinkers off the horse’s head. He trailed the field throughout and had to be caught by the outsider after the wire.
6TH RACE – Espinoza had another adventure but it was worth it in the end as he guided Reign Or Shine to an impressive victory. Reign Or Shine broke well and set the pace, but then when crossing the path that leads from the backstretch to the paddock she jumped over the hoofprints. She was able to recover quickly and set soft fractions and, when asked, she drew off to an easy victory.
8TH RACE – Steve Young brought back a runner as Imadeed set the pace under a hard hold by Norberto Arroyo Jr. and, once asked for run, she drew off to an impressive victory. Crescent Coast pressed the pace on the inside and tried to make a run in the stretch, but when Imadeed angled inside to intimidate her, she lost her momentum slightly and fell back to be third.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 1-5-1-6-4-3
12 winners each receives $2,048
298 consolation (5 of 6) winners
each receives $27.40
No carryover.