El Deal remains unbeaten by taking Gold Fever

Keeping his record unblemished after four starts, El Deal suggested he may be the real deal with a decisive front-running victory in Friday’s $100,000 Gold Fever Stakes for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park.

Dispatched as the co-second choice in a field of five, El Deal ($7.50) quickly grabbed the lead under Angel Cruz, set a pace of 22.91 and 46.06 seconds while pressed by 7-5 favorite Nonna’s Boy, and widened his lead through the stretch to win comfortably by 3 3/4 lengths.

“He took the lead easily and I slowed it down,” said Cruz, who won the Aqueduct spring meet riding title as an apprentice, but did not ride with a weight allowance in the stakes. “He just kept going and rolled. I thought it was going to be more of a race, but on the turn I looked [at Nonna’s Boy] and I had horse. When I let him go, he sprinted.”

El Deal, who was coming of a first-level allowance win at Parx Racing, ran six furlongs in 1:09.47 over a fast track, and gave Andrew Lakeman the first stakes winner of his training career.

“He was very impressive today. He had been training well,” said Lakeman. “I always thought he had the talent right from the beginning. Everything he’s done so far he’s just handled really well. He’s very professional and in the mornings he’s easy to train, which makes my job that much easier. I’m not sure where we’ll go next. His daddy [Munnings] won the Woody Stephens, so I’d love to win that race with him, but we’ll see how far he can go. I’ve been really patient with him and spaced out his races. He’s only a baby and I think he’s got a promising future.”

Nonna’s Boy was clearly second best by 2 1/2 lengths over Gypsum Johnny. The order of finish was completed by Money Changer and Ackeret.