Buy Land and See digs in to take Awad Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Buy Land and See made a successful journey from Parx to Belmont Park, rallying five wide in the stretch under Irad Ortiz Jr. and outfinished longshot Pixelate to win the $100,000 Awad Stakes for 2-year-old colts.

The win backed up Buy Land and See’s dominant 8 3/4-length maiden score in his second start Parx on Sept. 21. Prior to that, he finished third in a sprint maiden affair at Saratoga.

“I’ve always thought a lot of this horse, he’s just progressed from race one to race two and trained forwardly for today’s race,” said winning trainer Steve Klesaris. “I felt really confident with this horse, he’s shown me quite a bit of ability.”

Buy Land and See was behind horses early with Noble Emotion and Get Smokin setting fractions of 23.06 and 46.89 seconds. Ortiz said he was biding his time sitting just behind the speed but got a little nervous when Kendrick Carmouche on Don Juan Kitten got the jump on him turning for home. Ortiz asked his horse to go, but it took a few strides for Buy Land and See to respond.

“He doesn’t kick really fast, but in three or strides he was running,” Ortiz said. “I just keep riding, keep him straight, I don’t want the other horse to open up on me.”

Don Juan Kitten lugged in in midstretch and was tiring, but Pixelate was rallying down the center of the course only to come up short.

Buy Land and See, a homebred son of Cairo Prince owned by Joe Imbesi, covered the mile in 1:35.70 and returned $8.70 as the second choice.

Pixelate finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of Don Juan Kitten, who was 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Irish Mias. Talking, was fifth and was followed, in order, by Tiesto, the 2-1 favorite, No Lime, Me and Mr. C, Noble Emotion, and Get Smokin. Polar Pete scratched.

Klesaris said Buy Land and See would not likely run again this year and would winter in South Florida.