Les Bon Temps finishes second, awarded first via Little Linzee DQ in Park Avenue

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Les Bon Temps crossed the wire a nose behind Little Linzee in Sunday’s $200,000 Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct, but the New York-bred 3-year-old filly was elevated to first when the stewards deemed Little Linzee interfered with her in the stretch and disqualified that one from first to second.

Thus, Les Bon Temps won her third career stakes, first for owner Sheila Rosenblum and trainer Linda Rice. Rosenblum bought a half-interest in Les Bon Temps following her victory in the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the NYSS in December. She was trained by Mike Maker then and owned by a partnership led by Deuce Greathouse with several partners who still retained partial interest.

That December win came with a lot less drama than this one.

Prior to the start of the Park Avenue, Penn National shipper Athena Beach flipped in the gate, unseating jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. The filly, the co-second choice at the time, was scratched. Santana, who flew in from Arkansas specifically to ride Athena Beach, was uninjured. All the other horses backed out and were reloaded.

When the race started, Honest Banker, under Jorge Vargas Jr., shot out to the front and was chased by Little Linzee, under Katie Davis from the inside, and Les Bon Temps, under Jose Ortiz from the outside.

Approaching the five-sixteenths pole, Little Linzee shot through an opening along the rail to take the lead while Ortiz had to go three-wide heading for home.

Little Linzee was fending off Les Bon Temps, but began drifting out several paths while bumping Les Bon Temps. Ortiz claimed foul and the stewards made the obvious call to reverse the two top placings.

“If [Davis] stays straight I win the race for sure,” Ortiz said. “Bumped me, bumped me, bumped me, kept getting out and I only got beat by a nose.”

Davis said Little Linzee has a tendency to drift in her races.

“She drifts all the time and I just try to keep her straight and do my best with her,” Davis said. “I’m just disappointed and in myself. I feel like [Ortiz] kind of took advantage of the situation, knowing I’m drifting and got up right there and stood his ground.”

Rice said when she saw the head-on view of the stretch run, she was confident Les Bon Temps would be put up.

Coming into the race, Rice felt Les Bon Temps was doing the best she had since Rice acquired her, giving her confidence to run her in this 6 1/2-furlong spot.

“She had run well on a wet track, I was happy with that,” Rice said. “I was a little concerned the distance was a little short for her, but I think the wet track certainly helped.”

Les Bon Temps, a daughter of Laoban, covered the 6 1/2 furlongs over a sealed, muddy track in 1:18.96 and returned $6.80 as the second choice.

Finishing behind the top two, in order, were Midtown Lights, the even-money favorite, Dream On Cara, Clover Street, Hypnocurrency and Honest Banker. Maggie T and Our Rose Diamonds were early scratches.

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