Ajaya prevails in Gimcrack Stakes at York

Course experience worked in favor of Ajaya on Saturday, when the colt won the $339,445 Gimcrack Stakes for 2-year-olds at York Racecourse in England.

Finnegan, a maiden-race winner at Pimlico in May for trainer Wesley Ward, finished seventh of eight as the 11-4 favorite after setting the early pace in the Group 2 race at six furlongs on turf.

Ajaya (7-2) raced off the pace for the first half-mile and took the lead with more than a furlong remaining. Ridden by Graham Gibbons, Ajaya finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of 25-1 Ribchester. Raucous, a 7-2 shot, finished third. Ajaya and Raucous are trained by William Haggas, whose stable had five wins from Wednesday through Saturday at York’s Ebor meeting.

Ajaya, by Invincible Spirit, has won 2 of 5 starts for owners and breeders Saleh Al Hamaizi and Imad Al Sagar. Ajaya was third as a maiden in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot in June in his second start and won a maiden race at York on July 10. He was second in the Group 2 Prix Robert Pain at Maisons-Laffitte in France on July 26.

Haggas said Ajaya will be considered for the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at six furlongs at Newmarket on Oct. 9.