Connections' strategy pays off as Devious Mo wins Times Square

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The connections of Devious Mo were debating a couple of things after two poor efforts following a claim for $40,000.

The first was whether to geld the son of Laoban or drop him in class. Owner Mike Repole told trainer Rudy Rodriguez to drop him in class and on March 13 Devious Mo won a maiden $25,000 claiming race by 8 3/4 lengths.

The next decision to make was whether to run back in a starter allowance - or Saturday’s $200,000 Times Square division of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct.

“[Repole] said we’re going to run in the stakes because maybe it’ll be a little easier,” Rodriguez said.

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Easy or not, the decision to run in the Times Square paid off as Devious Mo, under a hustling ride from Manny Franco, held off the favored maiden Sinful Dancer to win the Times Square by three-quarters of a length. It was 5 3/4 lengths back to It’s Gravy in third.

Market Alert was fourth followed by Lobsta, Writer’s Regret, and Papa Smooth.

“It makes up for last year when we got beat a nose with Dream Bigger,” said Rodriguez, referring to the $500,000 Great White Way division of the NYSS held in December 2019 in which Dream Bigger was beaten a nose by Bank on Shea.

On Saturday, Devious Mo had the rail and both Rodriguez and Franco agreed to hustle the horse away from the gate to attain a forward position. Lobsta, breaking from the outside post under Eric Cancel, was intent on the lead and held a narrow advantage over Devious Mo through a quarter in 22.52 seconds. Devious Mo got to the front after a half-mile in 45.87, opened up a clear lead in upper stretch and held Sinful Dancer off in the stretch.

Devious Mo covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.10 and returned $24.20 as the third-longest price in the field.

“Eric wanted to go so I keep my spot there inside,” Franco said. “By the three-eighths pole I have to go because the hole is closing so I just ask him a little and he was there for me. That was the key, he helped me all the way around.”

There will be more decisions ahead for Repole and Rodriguez concerning Devious Mo. But there will be no more talk about gelding him.

“I guess we don’t cut him now,” Rodriguez said.