Aqueduct: Saginaw collects fifth stakes win of season in Fourstars Allstar

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

Saginaw scores as the favorite under Ramon Dominguez in the Fourstars Allstar.

Saginaw wrested the lead around the turn, built a clear advantage through midstretch beneath Ramon Dominguez, and held off a determined Friend Or Foe to win Sunday’s $80,000 Fourstars Allstar overnight stakes at Aqueduct.

Saginaw ($3.20) tracked Johannesburg and Beautyinthepulpit through early fractions of 23.53 and 46.71 seconds, gained command after six furlongs in 1:10.67, and was fully extended to turn back Friend Or Foe by three-quarters of a length.

Saginaw, claimed for $30,000 by David Jacobson on March 8, ran one mile in 1:35.62 on a fast main track. The 6-year-old New York-bred Saginaw improved to 9-1-0 from 12 starts this year, and the Fourstars Allstar was his fifth stakes score in 2012.

Friend Or Foe, the 2010 Empire Classic winner, was making his first start since the 2011 Whitney Handicap for trainer John Kimmel, and he was whittling away at the winner’s margin late in an encouraging comeback effort.

“He showed up late at the Saratoga meet and he was mad because he didn’t get to go into his big corner stall,” said Kimmel. “Hopefully he can rebound and have a pretty good campaign. The handicap division has never been very deep. If we can get him back, we’ll take him down to Florida and hopefully have a good campaign. If he can stay healthy, there’s no reason he can’t compete at the top tier in the handicap division.”

Johannesburg Smile and Beautyinthepulpit completed the order of finish. Sailmate and Shrewd One were scratched, reducing the field to four.