Drafted rolls by Chateau to take the Runhappy by a length
After an unsuccessful reach for the stars in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap in April, Drafted returned to easier company Saturday at Belmont Park and flashed a strong closing kick under Jose Ortiz to run down a loose-on-the-lead Chateau and win Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Runhappy Stakes by one length at Belmont Park.
Chateau, second in the Grade 3 Tom Fool in March, settled for second again Saturday, three-quarters of a length ahead of Tom Fool winner Officiating. Repo Rocks was fourth while Answer In was eased by Flavien Prat after his left rein broke midway through the race.
After going nearly three years without a win, Drafted has now won two of his last three starts. In February, he won the Grade 3 Toboggan at Aqueduct before finishing fifth, 10 1/4 lengths behind Speaker’s Corner, in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap on April 9.
“He ran a decent race the last time, it’s just he was punching above his weight, so go back to the real world and he showed up today,” winning trainer David Duggan said.
In his victory in the Toboggan, the pace was slow and jockey Jose Ortiz allowed Drafted to make an early move and he was in four in front by the eighth pole. Saturday, with Ortiz back aboard, Drafted was last of five early, while Chateau, under Kendrick Carmouche, opened up a 2 1/2-length advantage after running a half-mile in 45.57 seconds. Drafted was five lengths back at that point.
Chateau maintained a 3 1/2-length advantage at the eighth pole, but Drafted, now four wide and in the clear wore him down late to win by a length.
Drafted, an 8-year-old gelding by Field Commission owned by Dublin Fjord Stables, Racepoint Stables, Kevin Hilbert, and Thomas O’Keee, covered the six furlongs in 1:10.84 and returned $8.60 as the fourth choice. Repo Rocks went off a slight 2-1 favorite while Chateau was second choice by $818 over Officiating.
“I was a little worried when the pace didn’t develop like I thought,” Ortiz told NYRA publicity. “Chateau broke really well and Repo Rocks didn’t, so Chateau was able to get away with an easy lead. He went fast enough, but by himself, which was good for him. I’m happy we were able to run him down.”
Drafted has now won eight races from 27 starts and increased his career earnings to $939,193.