Canigetaloan upsets Aspirant Stakes for maiden victory
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Canigetaloan pulled off the upset in the $99,388 Aspirant Stakes on Monday at Finger Lakes, holding off top two wagering choices, Trust Fund and Tall Paul, in a blanket finish to win his maiden in the stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds.
The Aspirant and its sister race, the $103,159 Lady Finger – won by Soloshot – are preps for the $200,000 New York Breeders Futurity on Oct. 16 at Finger Lakes. The winners of both stakes receive free entry to the six-furlong Futurity.
Canigetaloan ($8.60) and Kendrick Carmouche got first run on pacesetter Antonio of Venice, surging by that one in upper stretch. They then held off Trust Fund, on the outside, by a head with Tall Paul, between horses, another head back at the wire. The time for the 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:05 on a track rated good.
Canigetaloan, trained by Jeremiah Englehart, had made one previous start, finishing second to Trust Fund, trained by Todd Pletcher, by 2 1/4 lengths in his Saratoga debut. Favored Tall Paul, the first Finger Lakes starter for Bob Baffert, also came in off a Saratoga maiden win.
Later on the card, favored Soloshot ($4.10) was a handy winner of the Lady Finger.
Soloshot, who had Manny Franco in the irons for George Weaver, broke sharply and was never challenged. She never led by less than a length and hit the wire two lengths in front. The filly used similar front-running tactics for her dominant 7 3/4-length debut victory last month at Saratoga.
Soloshot’s time for the 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:05.98.
Redwineandwhiskey was second by three-quarters of a length over second choice Unicorn Cake, who made up ground after hopping at the start.
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