4-5 favorite Alpha closed strongly from just off the pace to take the $150,000 Count Fleet Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths in very impressive fashion.
Owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, the son of Bernardini settled into third under Ramon Dominguez as the 5-2 second choice Il Villano set the early pace. He was being tracked by How Do I Win, with Whistleblower, Stephanoatsee, Speightscity, and Shkspeare Shaliyah trailing the field.
The opening fractions were fairly slow -- :24.48 and :49.06. But around the far turn, Alpha began making a three wide bid that carried himself into contention following three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.91. How Do I Win quickly dropped out of win contention, but Il Villano held tough during the early part of the stretch. But nearing the sixteenth pole, Alpha was able to put away his rival and draw away late to win the one-mile and seventy yards in 1:42.83.
Stephanoatsee rallied furiously in the final furlong to nose out Il Villano for second, while How Do I Win held fourth.
-Keelerman
No comments:
Post a Comment