Gold Sweep dominates Tremont Stakes
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Gold Sweep dominated the $150,000 Tremont on Sunday at Belmont Park to give trainer Steve Asmussen a sweep of the card's stakes for 2-year-olds.
Earlier in the afternoon, Asmussen trainee Closing Act won the $150,000 Astoria.
Gold Sweep ($3.60) won his maiden in the Tremont. He stalked the pace set by Vitement, who took the field through an opening quarter in 22.32 seconds and continued with company through a half-mile in 45.65. Gold Sweep advanced three wide on the turn, moved past the leaders coming to the final furlong, then drew out for a nine-length win. He covered the 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:03.47.
“We jumped out of there well from the gate,” winning rider Jose Ortiz told the New York Racing Association. "He put me into a lovely position and was so relaxed and easy. Passing the three-eighths, I was confident he was going to get it done. I put my hands down and he was just a pro.
“At the quarter-pole he was beautiful, and at the three-sixteenths, he switched leads and exploded. I showed him the whip a little just to ask him to get away and from that point on I just told him to finish the race. I didn’t encourage him a whole lot and he did it pretty easy. For a 2-year-old in his second race and a maiden, I think he’s going to be pretty nice.”
Ship Cadet finished second, while it was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Yo Yo Candy.
Gold Sweep came into the Tremont off a runner-up finish in a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs in his career debut May 18. The son of Speightstown races for Mike McCarty. The first-place check of $82,500 on Sunday pushed Gold Sweep’s earnings to $106,500.
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