Axelrod draws away late to take Smarty Jones

Axelrod cemented his status as a rising contender in this 3-year-old crop with his second consecutive graded stakes victory, drawing clear late in the Grade 3, $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Saturday at Parx.

Axelrod ($10), who was not away alertly, recovered to stalk the pace under Joe Bravo but was still fifth after six furlongs and looking for running room on the far turn. Meanwhile, Diamong King was setting the pace under pressure, narrowly leading Title Ready and favored Flameaway through six furlongs in a moderate 1:13.04.

Bravo swung Axelrod wide into the lane for running room, and he responded readily when roused. Up front, Diamond King had put away his challengers for a clear lead, but the accelerating Axelrod quickly inhaled him and won by four lengths going away. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:45.34.

Diamond King gamely held second by a neck over a rallying First Mondays. After the top three, it was 4 1/2 lengths back to Transistor, followed by Wait for It, Title Ready, a fading Flameaway, and Cowboy Night.

Axelrod, trained by Michael McCarthy for Slam Dunk Racing, came into the Smarty Jones off a victory in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby in July. That was his first foray away from his California base; the Warrior’s Reward colt previously finished second in the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes in June at Santa Anita.

The Smarty Jones serves as the local prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, which has developed into a major event on the 3-year-old schedule.

One race earlier, Aztec Sense scored a 3 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Salvatore M. DeBunda PTHA President’s Cup, remaining unbeaten in six starts this season.

Aztec Sense ($3.40) with Kendrick Carmouche in the irons for trainer Jorge Navarro, stalked the pace set by Two Weeks off, poked his head in front around the far turn, and drew away as he pleased in the stretch. He finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:51.64

Small Bear was a clear second, 7 1/4 lengths ahead of G Zap, who nosed out Two Weeks Off.

Aztec Sense, who scored his third career stakes win, inherited favoritism when the popular graded stakes winner Page McKenney was retired due to filling in his leg the day prior to the race.