Good Lord Lorrie wears down leaders to take Woodhaven

Two turns and an eight-month layoff proved no obstacles for Good Lord Lorrie, who got a perfect trip under Flavien Prat and wore down longshot The Big Torpedo to win Saturday’s $125,000 Woodhaven Stakes by a half-length going a mile on the turf at Aqueduct.

It was 1 1/4 lengths back to Walley World in third. Carson’s Run, the 4-5 favorite, finished fourth, but was disqualified to fifth for carrying out Elysian Meadows at the top of the stretch. Elysian Meadows, who finished fifth, was elevated to fourth. Works for Me and Ridgewood Runner, who dueled on the lead, finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

Good Lord Lorrie, a son of Hard Spun owned by Harrell Ventures and trained by George Weaver, was making his first start since a debut win last August going 5 1/2 furlongs. The horse had an unspecified physical issue that forced him to the sidelines.

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Weaver expressed confidence that Good Lord Lorrie could get the two-turn mile provided he wasn’t too keen early in the race. Weaver thought jockey Flavien Prat would be a good choice to get the horse to settle.

“Flavien has a nice set of hands for a horse you might be worried about being keen going two turns first time,” Weaver said. “I thought Flavien did a great job getting into a comfortable rhythm. The horse proved two turns doesn’t bother him. I thought he rated well and finished well.”

Good Lord Lorrie obtained a good spot, sitting third, by himself, about five lengths behind Ridgewood Runner and Works for Me, who were in close contention through a half-mile in 46.28 seconds.

The Big Torpedo, under Eric Cancel, rallied outside of Good Lord Lorrie and made the first run on the leaders, albeit three wide while Good Lord Lorrie continued to save ground.

The Big Torpedo made the lead in upper stretch and after Prat tipped Good Lord Lorrie into the three-path, he was able to wear down The Big Torpedo in the final 30 yards.

Good Lord Lorrie covered the mile over a firm turf course in 1:34.85 and returned $7 as the second choice.

“We got into a good spot going into the first turn and he relaxed well down the backside,” Prat told NYRA publicity. “I was able to save ground pretty much all the way around and he showed some heart at the end.”

Weaver hopes the Woodhaven is the first step to a big year for Good Lord Lorrie. He mentioned the Grade 3, $400,000 Penn Mile at Hollywood Casino at Penn National on May 31 as a possible next spot.

Meanwhile, Carson’s Run, a Grade 1 winner at 2, was making his 3-year-old debut in this spot. Dylan Davis told NYRA publicity that the horse was trying to get out on the first turn before setting a little bit down the backside.

“Going into that second turn, he was on it nice and all of a sudden, I had no control,” Davis said. “He must have seen something and he just bolted right out of there. It cost him the whole race. I just tried to hang onto him.”

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