Blowout a front-running winner in Pebbles Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Blowout dropped out of graded stakes company and got back on the winning track, leading throughout under a red-hot John Velazquez, to register a convincing 2 1/4-length victory over stablemate Seek and Destroy in Saturday’s $200,000 Pebbles Stakes at Belmont Park.

Blowout entered the one-mile Pebbles off a pair of near misses against graded company at Saratoga when finishing third, beaten a neck, in the Grade 2 Lake Placid and second, a half-length behind Regal Glory, in the Grade 3 Lake George.

With Velazquez aboard for the first time, Blowout quickly assumed command, as expected, from the inside and rated kindly on the lead while stalked from the outset by Passing Out. Blowout readily shook free when roused upon settling into the stretch, opening a comfortable advantage, and was not threatened thereafter. The win was the fourth straight on the card for Velazquez.

Seek and Destroy, the tepid 2-1 favorite in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies, rallied down the center of the course to best Feel Glorious by a head to finish second. Alasaayil, East, Passing Out and Eyeinthesky rounded out the complete order of finish.

Chad Brown trains both Blowout and Seek and Destroy. Peter Brant owns Blowout, a 3-year-old English-bred daughter of Dansili, who negotiated the distance over the firm course in 1:33.35 and paid $7.70.

“We knew she had speed, we were just trying to keep her calm in the post parade and hope she would give me a little break in the first part of the race,” said Velazquez. “Obviously, she did, and she had something left running down the lane.”

Whit Beckman, Brown’s assistant, said Blowout “runs her races every time, tries hard, and when she gets her trip, she’s capable.”

Brown was en route back from the Keeneland September yearling sales at post time for the Pebbles.