Aqua Bel Sar (37-1) makes it two straight NYSS upsets

For the second consecutive day, there was a longshot winner of a division of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct.

One day after Aunt Babe recorded a 39-1 upset in the Fifth Avenue division for 2-year-old fillies, Aqua Bel Sar on Sunday pulled off a 37-1 upset in Sunday’s $150,000 Great White Way division for 2-year-old males.

Aqua Bel Sar not only won his first race - in his second start - but he also gave trainer Bisnath Parboo his first win of 2017, in his 31st start, and his first win since 2014. He was not listed as training horses from 2014-16.

“Break your maiden in a stakes race, that’s something I like,” Parboo said.

Aqua Bel Sar is a son of Trinniberg, trained by Parboo, who was the champion sprinter in 2012 after winning four graded stakes including the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Aqua Bel Sar races under the ownership banner of Ryan Racing Inc., named for a great grandchild and a grandchild of Parboo’s. In 2011, Parboo won the Grade 1 Vosburgh with Giant Ryan.

Parboo ran Aqua Bel Sar - named for Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga - just 16 days after the horse ran fourth in his debut here at odds of 62-1.

Breaking from the outside post in a field of seven, Trevor Simpson hustled Aqua Bel Sar into the race and was third, stalking Dezzer and Stoney Bennett, the 3-5 favorite, through a quarter of 22.50 seconds. Aqua Bel Sar made the lead in the middle of the far turn and was in front turning for home despite being wide.

Belleville Spring, who had to steady down the backside and then wait for room under Manny Franco, found that room in upper stretch and made a run at Aqua Bel Sar, perhaps even putting his nose in front at the sixteenth pole. But Aqua Bel Sar battled back to win by a neck. Belleville Spring finished two lengths in front of Spectacular Kid, a 56-1 longshot. He was followed, in order, by Inalienable Rights, Five Star Bunt, Dezzer, and Stoney Bennett.

“The trainer said the best thing to do is get a good break from the gate and then he can take it from there,” Simpson said. “He finished hard, he’s a fighter.”

Aqua Bel Sar ran six furlongs in 1:13.43 and returned $77 to win. His victory helped to trigger a pick-6 carryover of $99,703 into Thursday’s Aqueduct card.

Parboo said “this is only the beginning” and will look to point Aqua Bel Sar to the open company stakes for 3-year-old sprinters in 2018.