Aqueduct: Farhaan fights off a game Percussion to win Stymie

In a good old-fashioned brawl, Farhaan and Percussion slugged it out through the stretch run of Saturday’s $98,000 Stymie, with Farhaan taking a close decision and withstanding an inquiry and an objection.

Percussion broke alertly from the outside as the 3-2 favorite in the 1 1/8-mile race, but was quickly joined from the rail by second choice Mail, and they went head to head through an opening quarter in 24.03 and a half-mile in 48.50 seconds. Percussion got the best of that duel heading into the far turn and edged away beneath Chris DeCarlo, but they were quickly set upon by Farhaan, who had been tracking the leaders intently with Irad Ortiz Jr. and waiting to pounce.

Farhaan had the lead and the momentum and appeared ready to draw off turning for home, but Percussion fought back determinedly along the rail, and the two went at it shoulder to shoulder for the last eighth of a mile while brushing repeatedly.

Farhaan ($8.20) finally prevailed by a neck, and then survived a stewards’ inquiry and an objection by the runner-up to give Ortiz his fourth win on the card.

“Percussion likes to fight, so he came back to me,” said Ortiz, who expanded his meet lead over his brother Jose. “[Farhaan] got the lead easily, but after that he wants to fight, too. I hit him just one time, and [Percussion] wasn’t going to go by me. I knew my horse was going to keep his head in front.”

Farhaan ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.52 on an inner track upgraded from good to fast two races earlier. The final three furlongs required 40.05 seconds, a result of the demanding pace.

Farhaan, a homebred 5-year-old by Jazil, improved to 2 for 2 at the winter meet. He is owned by Shadwell Stable and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin.

“I think they made the right call - we got lucky today,” said assistant trainer Art Magnuson. “Great ride by Irad. [Percussion] ran very, very game. He had to withstand pressure early and fight us off. Turning for home, I was worried about how many days we missed training, but it all worked out."

Magnuson said the March 22 Excelsior here could be the next race for Farhaan.

Jonesy Boy ran on late to finish a length farther back in third. It was nearly six lengths back to Mail in fourth. Gourmet Dinner completed the order of finish.