Acoustic Ave romps to victory in Aspirant Stakes

Acoustic Ave’s triumph was never in doubt in the $97,854 Aspirant Stakes on Monday at Finger Lakes as he led throughout and was wrapped up in the final sixteenth while coasting to a 9 1/4-length win.

The Aspirant for New York-bred males and its sister race on Monday’s card, the $97,725 Lady Finger Stakes for juvenile fillies, won by Warsaichi, were the local preps for the $200,000 New York Breeders Futurity on Oct. 17 at Finger Lakes. The winners of both of Monday’s stakes receive a free entry to the Futurity.

Favored Acoustic Ave ($2.10) and regular rider Manny Franco had a head in front through an opening quarter of 22.29 seconds on a sloppy track Monday at Finger Lakes. The colt handily shook off the pressing Gold in Them Hills to take an open lead into the stretch and continued as he pleased to his final margin. He finished the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.48.

Mo Trump was a distant second, 3 1/2 lengths clear of Gold in Them Hills.

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Acoustic Ave has now won 2 of 3 starts, all against statebreds, for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and trainer Christophe Clement. After a 7 1/4-length debut win at Saratoga, he was third to Andiamo a Firenze and Donegal Surges in the Funny Cide Stakes on Aug. 26.

Warsaichi ($4) also was favored in the Lady Finger and also turned in a front-running score. The filly led by a length through the quarter of 22.26 and kept that margin around the turn. Kept to task by John Davila Jr. down the lane, she kicked clear in the final stages to win by 4 1/4 lengths.

Isabel Luvs Gold was second by six lengths over Womanonthewarpath. The fillies finished the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:06.64.

This was the second win from three starts for Warsaichi, who is trained by Chris Englehart for My Purple Haze Stables. After finishing second in her debut, she was a maiden winner Sept. 5 at Finger Lakes.

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