Aqueduct: Inner track specialist Inherit the Gold adds Kings Point to resume

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Inherit the Gold passed his sternest test to date with an easy two-length victory over odds-on favorite Yawanna Twist in Saturday’s $65,000 Kings Point Stakes for New York-breds at Aqueduct.

Yawanna Twist, the 4-5 favorite, finished second by 2 3/4 lengths over Spa City Fever. Mine Over Matter and Stud Muffin completed the order of finish. Thunder Chief scratched.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for Inherit the Gold - all coming over the inner track - and sixth from 13 career starts. Inherit the Gold is a 5-year-old gelded son of Gold Token owned in part by Susanne Hooper and her husband James, who is also the trainer.

Under Eddie Castro, Inherit the Gold sat third while Spa City Fever set the pace, chased by Yawanna Twist, last year’s Gotham and Illinois Derby runner-up who had won an open company allowance race at Gulfstream last month. Inherit the Gold was third, about 4 1/2 lengths off the pace after a half-mile run in 49.02 seconds.

Entering the far turn, Yawanna Twist went after Spa City Fever and Eddie Castro made a three-wide bid on Inherit the Gold. Turning for home, Inherit the Gold took a short lead from Yawanna Twist and with a couple of taps of Castro’s right-handed whip, Inherit the Gold opened up a 2 1/2-length lead in midstretch. Inherit the Gold, who carried 124 pounds and spotted the runner-up six pounds, was geared down late by Castro and ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.99. He returned $5.40 as the 8-5 second choice.

“When I saw him rev up and make the move it didn’t look like [Yawanna Twist] was really going to fire,’’ James Hooper said. “I thought I was going to the winner’s circle.’’

Hooper said that his initial plan was to run Inherit the Gold back in the Grade 3, $100,000 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct on April 2, but he may also consider the $1 million Charles Town Classic at Charles Town on April 16.