Belmont: Irish Colonial waltzes in Kingston

ELMONT, N.Y. - Irish Colonial, who had come close but had yet to win a stakes race, finally broke through, registering a four-length victory in the $113,600 Kingston Handicap for New York-breds.

Celtic Sky, who won last year's Kingston, settled for second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Whitmore's Conn, a stablemate of Irish Colonial.

Under Javier Castellano, Irish Colonial ran with Reluctant Groom through an opening quarter-mile in 25.91 seconds over the soft inner turf course. Irish Colonial put away Reluctant Groom down the backside and opened up a huge advantage turning for home.