Gerrymander fights off challenger to take the Tempted, one of four stakes on the day
Gerrymander became a stakes winner Friday when she fought off a bid from Magic Circle to capture the $150,000 Tempted at Belmont Park. She won by a half-length over Magic Circle. It was another neck back in third to a fast-closing Nest.
The Tempted, a one-turn mile race for 2-year-old fillies, was one of four stakes on the card.
Gerrymander ($4.90) dictated the early pace, setting fractions of 24.56 for the opening quarter, 48.38 for the half-mile, and 1:12.50 for six furlongs. Magic Circle, who raced in second, moved up to challenge into the stretch and Gerrymander responded, fighting back along the inside while covering the distance on a fast track in 1:38.13.
Eric Cancel was aboard Gerrymander for Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown.
“She has a nice, moving action,” Cancel told the press office at Belmont. “She was very comfortable. I was very happy I got her to relax and go how I wanted. It’s the key because you don’t want to fight a horse too early. They won’t have the same kick at the end.
“I saw her replay last time and she didn’t break as good and tried to rush up a little bit. She still was game and was a good second. But today, my plan was to break out of there and wherever she wanted to be, just be comfortable. It ended up being on the lead and worked out well.”
Gerrymander came into the Tempted off a runner-up finish to Echo Zulu in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont. Earlier in the year, Gerrymander won a maiden special weight at Saratoga. She is a daughter of Into Mischief and a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Lone Rock.
Gerrymander has now won 2 of 4 starts and earned $235,500.
Brown had a second stakes winner on the card when General Ken got up for a nose win in the $100,000 Awad. The mile and a sixteenth race for 2-year-olds was run over firm turf. Geno finished second, a length in front of third-place finisher Daunt.
General Ken ($3.80) stalked the pace set by Geno, who put up fractions of 24.57 seconds for the opening quarter, 49.56 for the half-mile and 1:13.82 for six furlongs. General Ken rallied through the stretch to win under Dylan Davis, covering the distance in 1:43.76.
General Ken is now 2 for 2 following a 7 1/4-length maiden special weight win Sept. 15 at Delaware Park.
“It took a little bit to get it going, but once at the eighth pole, he had clear sailing and he took off and was just getting started,” Davis said. “He’s a great horse and I think he’ll have the ability to step up after this one.”
General Ken is a son of Violence who races for Louis Lazzinaro and Michael Dubb.
Dubb had an ownership stakes in two other stakes winners on the card. He co-owns both Doctor Jeff, who won the $100,000 Atlantic Beach and Classic Lady, who accounted for the $200,000 Ticonderoga.
The Ticonderoga, at a mile and a sixteenth on the inner turf, was for fillies and mares bred in New York. It was to have been run last Saturday, but was moved due to a forecast of wet weather.
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Classic Lady ($9.60) rallied for a length and a quarter win over Cara’s Dreamer while covering the distance in 1:43.35.
Paco Lopez was aboard the daughter of Jimmy Creed, who is trained by Christophe Clement. Classic Lady was winning her second stakes and is now 5 for 21 for earnings of $401,290.
Dubb’s partner in Classic Lady is Michael Caruso.
Caruso also has a stake in Doctor Jeff, who led throughout in the Atlantic Beach for a three-length win over Trust Daddy.
The race was for 2-year-olds over six furlongs on the inner turf.
Doctor Jeff ($7.40) set fractions of 22.93 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.86 for the half-mile before going on to win in 1:09.61.
Jose Lezcano was aboard the son of Street Boss for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.
Doctor Jeff was winning his first stakes and is now 2 for 4 for earnings of $124,500.