Blindwillie McTell has no problem with slop in Great White Way

In his debut Blindwillie McTell broke alertly but was allowed to settle off the pace. He finished second in an eight-horse field.

On Sunday, over a sloppy track in the $150,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Series, jockey Dylan Davis had Blindwillie McTell hold his position when he was joined from the inside soon after the start by Kociuszko. The result was an impressive 2 1/2-length victory by the 2-year-old son of Posse.

Blindwillie McTell and Kociuszko raced side by side on the lead in the 11-horse Great White Way. Thorny Tale launched a strong four-wide bid on the far turn of the six-furlong race and reached even terms with Blindwillie McTell entering the stretch. But when Davis asked for more, Blindwillie McTell delivered and he quickly opened up to be clearly best.

"Most importantly, I wanted to break sharp and this horse knew what he needed to do coming out of the gate," Davis said. "He wasn't really bothered by the early pressure, but once I asked him, he went on and really handled the sloppy track well."

On a rainy, gray day at Aqueduct, Blindwillie McTell was timed in 1:11.80. Favored for most of the betting, Blindwillie McTell paid $7.50 as the second choice to 2-1 Kociuszko, who tired to finish sixth, beaten 16 lengths in a strung-out field.

Thorny Tale finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead of third-place Kadens Courage, who raced forwardly throughout but could not keep pace with the top two in the final quarter-mile.

Blindwillie McTell was bred and is owned by Jerold Zaro. The Great White Way was the second win on the card for both Davis and trainer Linda Rice.

"I told Dylan we had a big field here in the slop, so I wanted him to hustle him out of there," Rice said. "He broke so sharp, he ended up on top and he went with it. It turned out well."

Rice said Blindwillie McTell could make his next start in the $100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes at Aqueduct on Dec. 31. The Runyon is a one-mile race for New York-bred 2-year-olds.

"I think he can get a mile," Rice said. "We'll see how he comes out of this win."

Blindwillie McTell was flattered on Dec. 9 when Le General, whom he finished second to by 6 3/4 lengths first time out, came back to win a first-level optional claimer by 3 1/4 lengths. Blindwillie McTell repaid the favor Sunday, further bolstering Le General's reputation.