Champions Dream takes Nashua, Good Sam wins Tempted

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., fresh off winning three Breeders’ Cup races, swept both Sunday stakes at Aqueduct, taking the Grade 3, $150,000 Nashua with Champions Dream and the $150,000 Tempted with Good Sam.

The one-turn-mile stakes were for 2-year-olds.

Ortiz won the BC Juvenile on Friday with Forte and had a BC double on Saturday, taking the Filly and Mare Sprint with Goodnight Olive and the Sprint with Elite Power.

He was back at Aqueduct on Sunday, and guided Champions Dream to a three-quarter-length win over favorite Full Moon Madness. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to Prove Right.

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Champions Dream ($4.70) broke a step slow and was bumped out of the gate, then was steadied behind rivals before settling in fourth as Prove Right set fractions of 23.10 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.25 for the half-mile and 1:11.16 for six furlongs. Champions Dream advanced three wide on the turn, came three wide into the stretch, and took after new leader Full Moon Madness, digging in to get past that one. Champions Dream covered the distance on a fast track in 1:39.17.

“The plan was to be on the lead or close, but he missed the break, so I had to go to ‘Plan B,’ ” Ortiz told the publicity department for the New York Racing Association. “I had to take a hold. He almost clipped heels … after that, I took my time with him.

“It was an honest pace, so I tried to save some horse and wait for the time to go and I think that was the key.”

Danny Gargan trains Champions Dream, who is a son of Triple Crown winner Justify and the Grade 2-winning mare Dancinginherdreams.

The Nashua was scratched down to a field of five following the defection of Signator.

Champions Dream was making his third start, following a debut win over maiden special weight rivals at Saratoga and a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Champagne at Aqueduct.

Champions Dream is owned by Rosedown Racing Stables. He has now won 2 of 3 starts for $160,250.

Good Sam was a 3 1/2-length winner over Foggy Night in the Tempted, which was for 2-year-old fillies. It was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third to Rosie’s Alibi.

Good Sam ($3) tracked the pace in third as Foggy Night and Crypto Mama dueled through fractions of 23.26 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.84 for the half-mile and 1:12.44 for six furlongs. Good Sam moved past Foggy Night in the stretch and went on to cover the distance in 1:38.69.

Following the race, the rider of Foggy Night claimed foul against Good Sam for interference in the stretch, but the stewards made no change to the order of finish.

Ortiz rode Good Sam for Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown. Good Sam is a daughter of Good Samaritan. She is now 2 for 2 with earnings of $134,750.

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