Aqueduct: Shake You Down takes Gravesend

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Shake You Down's speed and class proved too much for his six opponents Sunday, as he rolled to an easy 2 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $109,000 Gravesend Handicap before 4,264 at Aqueduct.

Way to the Top, who dueled early with Shake You Down, settled for second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Gators N Bears. Peeping Tom, Papua, Black Silk, and Presidentialaffair completed the order of finish.

Under Mike Luzzi, Shake You Down, who conceded 8 to 13 pounds as the highweight at 124 pounds, broke sharply, cleared Way to the Top after an opening quarter run in 22.64 seconds, and was never seriously threatened. A 5-year-old son of Montbrook, Shake You Down covered the six furlongs in 1:09.55 over a fast track and returned $3.80 to win.

"He did everything right," said Lake, who trains Shake You Down for Robert Cole. "He came away from the gate cleanly and everything went perfect. He conceded a lot of weight for a sprinter."

The victory was the seventh in 13 races this year for Shake You Down, who also won the Bold Ruler, True North, and Smile Sprint handicaps. He finished third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and second in the Grade 1 De Francis Memorial.

Lake said Shake You Down will be pointed to the Sunshine Millions Sprint, a $300,000 race restricted to Florida- and California-breds to be run Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.