Ardmore Bay alters tactics to stay unbeaten in Tyro
Ardmore Bay, a front-running winner in his career debut against New York-breds, changed tactics to win Sunday’s $60,000 Tyro Stakes for 2-year-olds at Monmouth Park.
Given a patient ride by Victor Lebron, Ardmore Bay ($8.20) was fourth of six after the first three-eighths of a mile, made a four-wide move turning for home, and drew clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths. He completed 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf in 1:04.12.
“They were going really fast when we broke,” Lebron said. “ I just put my horse into cruise control and let him be two or three off of them. I saw how he ran at Belmont and it was an impressive race. Around the turn, I had him rolling. We were three or four wide, but I just didn’t want to stop him because of how fast he was coming and I knew I had a lot left.”
Bay Numbers, who led at the stretch call by a head, nosed out Follow the Rainbow for second. Iron Mane, the morning-line favorite, was scratched.
A son of Bluegrass Cat trained by Tom Morley for The Elkstone Group, Ardmore Bay sold for a mere $4,500 at auction last fall.