Litfin's Aqueduct recap: Favorites dominate on closing day

Prohibitive favorites dominated the three richest events on Aqueduct’s closing-day program Sunday, as Vyjack ($2.70) made a successful return to the races in a $68,000 allowance, followed by divisions of the $100,000 New York Stallion Series won by Loki’s Vengeance ($2.90) and Henry’s Gal ($3.00).

Making his first start since last year’s Haskell, Vyjack ran to some sharp recent workouts and prevailed by three-quarters of a length over the late-running Sensational Slam after seven furlongs in 1:22.24. “When I asked him, he took off,” said jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

Vyjack received a Beyer Speed Figure of 96 for his 4-year-old debut, matching his previous best earned as a 2-year-old.

“The Met Mile is still the target,” said trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who sent out Henry’s Gal to an easy win later in the day. “We’ll try to keep him happy until then; so far, so good.”

In the Times Square division of the New York Stallion Series for 3-year-old males, Loki’s Vengeance stalked 2-1 second choice Empire Dreams to the stretch and edged away to win by 1 1/4 lengths under Manny Franco. “(Trainer) Mike Hushion told me, ‘If somebody wants to go, sit behind him and make one move when you think you should,’ ” Franco said.

Loki’s Vengeance ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.80 and improved to 3-2-0 from six starts.

In the Park Avenue division for 3-year-old fillies, Henry’s Gal sped to the front at the start with Cornelio Velasquez aboard and coasted to a four-length victory over 18-1 longshot Champagne Ruby.

“I was a passenger,” Velasquez said. There was a slow pace, but I had a lot of horse. She galloped.”

Henry’s Gal, claimed for $75,000 in early March by Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables, is now 2 for 2 for her new connections and 4-0-1 from five starts overall.

“That’s what I was expecting from her [considering] the way she won the other day and the way she’s breezed in the morning,” Rodriguez said. “All the credit goes to Michael Dubb for picking out the horse; he saw that she was eligible for the New York Stallion Series.”

Henry’s Gal ran the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.70 and enabled Dubb to tie Drawing Away Stable for leading owner at the 23-day sprint meet with eight victories.

Drawing Away and David Jacobson sent out Ballybrit ($3.10) to win the opener. Jacobson garnered his second straight spring crown at Aqueduct, finishing with 18 wins, three more than Rodriguez.
Jose Ortiz captured his first riding title with 28 wins, five more than his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr.

Favorites won five of 10 races on getaway day and finished the session 86 for 210 (40.9 percent).

Racing shifts to Belmont Park for a 54-day spring-summer meet Thursday. First post opening day is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.