Aqueduct: Trinniberg cruises to victory in Bay Shore Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Allowed to coast along on an uncontested lead, just as in the Swale four weeks earlier, Trinniberg romped to an unchallenged victory in a slow-motion renewal of Saturday’s Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes.

Although Trinniberg’s opening half-mile of 47.41 seconds was hindered to some extent by a headwind, as was Broadway Alibi’s half in 47.25 wiring the Comely a race earlier, veteran rider Willie Martinez basically stole the race in broad daylight. Consider that New York-bred maidens went almost a full second faster to the half through the same wind earlier in the day.

Trinniberg ($4.70), the slight favorite over 7-5 runner-up Hardened Wildcat, broke alertly from the rail and was taken well out into the track. He went along his merry way through an opening quarter in 23.46 as How Do I Win and King and Crusader gave tepid chase. The winner continued well off the rail around the turn and into the stretch and galloped away with a few shakes of the reins to win the seven-furlong race by three easy lengths in 1:23.46, sprinting the last eighth in 11.96.[bc_video_id:248374:]

“Once I cleared the chute, I knew it was all over,” Martinez said. “I was just trying to be a passenger. He’s the pilot.”

Hardened Wildcat rallied wide from the back of the pack, altered course to the rail in midstretch, and was clear for the runner-up spot by 5 1/2 lengths over How Do I Win.

Maan was fourth, another 1 3/4 lengths behind.

King and Crusader, Phil Dancer, Perfect Trippi, and Copy My Swagger (eased) completed the order of finish.

Trinniberg, a bargain $21,000 2-year-old buy last April, improved to 2 for 2 this year and remained perfect on fast tracks overall at 3 for 3 for trainer Bisnath Parboo. The $150,000 winner’s share increased his graded stakes earnings to $324,500, virtually assuring him a berth in the Kentucky Derby, if his connections so choose.

“The performance was amazing,” owner Shivananda Parbhoo said. “The plans are for the Preakness, but let me see how good he comes out. There’s a 15 percent chance for the Kentucky Derby. I want to go long. Me and my pops [Bisnath Parboo] are an amazing team.”

Trinniberg was to be vanned back to Calder on Monday.