Finger Lakes: Bay Park Boy pulls away in Aspirant Stakes

Jockey Jesus Castanon guided Bay Park Boy wide around the turn and powered home through the stretch for a two-length victory in Monday’s $126,387 Aspirant Stakes for 2-year-old New York-bred males at Finger Lakes.

A heavy 1-5 favorite in a field of 10, Bay Park Boy bided his time in midpack as Now Flaws and Smokem’s Charm set the pace with fractions of 22.25 seconds for a the first quarter and 46.31 for the half-mile. Bay Park Boy began to quicken his pace around the turn as Castanon swung into the four path in the sloppy going. Bay Park Boy responded once clear and surged to the front in midstretch of the six-furlong dash. Smokem’s Charm held second by 1 1/2 lengths over French Wine, who was half-length better than Kall Me Sig.

Bay Park Boy covered the distance in 1:13.44 and returned $2.50.

Trained by Todd Pletcher for Anstu Stables, improved his record to 2 for 2, including a statebred maiden special weight win on a muddy track at Saratoga on Aug. 8. He earned $75,832 for the victory, increasing his bankroll to $99,832.

Lady Finger: Shot Gun Pennie from gate to wire

Shot Gun Pennie, under John Grabowski, shot to the front at the start and was never headed on her way to a 1 1/2-length maiden victory in the $135,325 Lady Finger Stakes for 2-year-old New York-bred fillies.

Coming off a 14 1/4-length, fifth-place finish in her debut over a muddy five furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 7, Shot Gun Pennie added blinkers for the Lady Finger. She held a one-length lead over One Smart Farrah through a quarter in 22.09 seconds and completed a half-mile in 46.40.

Rounding the turn, Wildcat’s Smile, part of a 1-5 entry with Millions in Motion, made a move to challenge the leader, but Shot Gun Pennie repelled the bid at the top of the stretch and cruised to the wire. Wildcat’s Smile finished second, 2 1/4 lengths in front of One Smart Farrah.

Trained by Carlos Martin, Shot Gun Pennie covered the six furlongs on a sloppy track in 1:13.65. A daughter of Speightstown out of Shot Gun Favorite, she returned $9.50 to win and banked $81,195 for Blue Devil Racing Stable.