'Devil' part of big day for New York-breds

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Allen Jerkens has been known to dominate during the spring at Aqueduct. This year has been no exception. "The Chief" put an exclamation point on a torrid hot streak, and widened his lead atop the trainer standings, when Spite the Devil upset Saturday's $150,000, Grade 3 Withers under a relentless ride from Luis Chavez.

Spite the Devil won his first stakes race following seven previous attempts, three of which had come with New York-breds.

Spite the Devil settled early and surge late on the outside to catch Gotham winner Alysweep, who had taken the lead in deep stretch. It was a length back to Stanislavsky, who edged pacesetter Don Six for third.

"I haven't seen a jock finish like that in a long time," said Jerkens of Chavez, who loses his apprentice allowance May 6.

Spite the Devil, who raced with blinkers on, benefited from a pace that was hotly contested among Don Six, New York Hero, and 3-2 favorite Halo Homewrecker. They battled through fractions of 22.68 seconds, 45, and 1:09.69. The pace took its toll, and the early leaders tired to finish fourth, fifth, and sixth.

"He's not going to be in any of the Triple Crown races," said Jerkens of Spite the Devil, who is owned by his wife, Elisabeth. "Maybe he'll run in the Peter Pan or the New York-bred races."

Spite the Devil paid $35.80 after running the mile in 1:35.89 on a fast main track. He earned $90,000.

Beaugay: Delta Princess scores

In the Grade 3 Beaugay Handicap, Delta Princess and Mike Luzzi hugged the rail while rallying inside pacesetter Cozzy Corner approaching midstretch and outkicked second choice Wonder Again to win by a half-length. Voodoo Dancer, the 4-5 favorite and winner of last year's Beaugay, finished another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Delta Princess completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.36 on firm turf.

Delta Princess was winning her third straight race without a loss as a 4-year-old, including two allowance races at Gulfstream Park during the winter. She is trained by Bill Mott. A daughter of A.P. Indy, Delta Princess has won five of her six turf starts. Her only prior stakes attempt was a third-place finish in the off-the-turf Pebbles Handicap in the mud at Belmont Park last fall.

Delta Princess earned $67,440 from a purse of $112,400, and paid $17 to win.

Voodoo Dancer's third-place share of $12,364 was enough to push her career earnings past the $1 million mark.