Aqueduct: Inherit the Gold reaffirms affinity for Big A by taking Thunder Rumble

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Inherit the Gold, who won five straight races at Aqueduct last winter and early spring, served notice he’s still a local force to be reckoned with, taking the Thunder Rumble division of Sunday’s New York Stallion Series by a hard-fought neck over second choice Pretty Boy Freud.

Inherit the Gold ($5.50), whose five-race win streak at the Big A was capped by the Grade 3 Excelsior back on April 2, rallied five wide into the lane, took the lead in deep stretch and turned back a rail bid from Pretty Boy Freud to prevail by a neck under John Velazquez.

Racing at a distance far shorter than his best, Inherit the Gold ran seven furlongs in 1:22.42 over a fast main track.

“I thought he was so wide, I didn’t think he could possibly get the job done out there,” said Jim Hooper, who trains the gray 5-year-old Inherit the Gold for his wife Susanne and Glas-Tipp Stable.

Pretty Boy Freud altered course to the inside late and just missed, while outfinishing entrymate Uncle T Seven by a half-length. Fourth-place finisher Make Note completed the trifecta.

In three other New York Stallion races:

* Lady On the Run ($4) wore down second choice Saltamontes to win the Staten Island division for fillies and mares in 1:23.41 for seven furlongs.

* The Funky Express ($3.30) posted a front-running victory in the Fifth Avenue division for 2-year-old fillies, turning back Vicki’s Dancer after six furlongs in 1:11.54.

* Shane Roars ($185.50), beaten better than 20 lengths in two starts against maidens at Saratoga, somehow staved off favored Think I’m Hooked and second choice Bait to light up the board in the Great White Way division for 2-year-olds.

Courtesy of Shane Roars, there will be a two-day pick six carryover of $89,732 when racing resumes on Wednesday.