Extravaganzoo impresses with Key Cents triumph

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Extravaganzoo won her second stakes in a row impressively on the stretch-out in Saturday’s $175,000 Key Cents for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies at Belmont.

With Samuel Marin aboard, Extravaganzoo raced about five lengths off an honest pace in the one-mile turf event while Saint Dymphna led with Luck Penny breathing down her neck.

Marin angled Extravaganzoo wide at the head of the stretch and she closed quickly, hitting the front near the eighth pole en route to a 5 1/2-length score, in a time of 1:35.20 over the firm ground.

Belmont Street rallied from sixth to finish a clear second as Saint Dymphna faded to finish third in the nine-horse field.

Extravaganzoo ($3.82) took the 6 1/2-furlong Joseph A. Gimma Stakes in her previous start under Manny Franco. This was the first time that Marin rode her for trainer George Weaver.

“At the three-eighths, I thought I was going to have to go,” Marin said. “I took a look at the leaders and it looked like they were going quick enough for me to catch up with them. I was not worried, and I was sitting on a lot of horse.

“Mr. Weaver has been doing this a long time and knows how to do it. He told me to be patient with her and she would be there for me, and he wasn’t wrong.”

A daughter of leading freshman sire Golden Pal, Extravaganzoo earned $96,250 for owner e Five Racing Thoroughbreds.

Jockey Chris Elliot was content with the effort put forth by the maiden Belmont Street, a daughter of hot freshman sire Corniche.

“She’s continuing to improve every time,” Elliott said. “She’s still learning, but she’s a very nice New York-bred filly. I saved all the ground, made a run on the inside, but the winner was much the best.”

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