Loki's Vengeance turns great trip into Affirmed Success victory

An early three-ply speed duel in the Affirmed Success Stakes at Belmont Park on Sunday set the table for the late-runners in the seven-horse field that filled a well-paying trifecta.

At the start, I’m Stoked, Captain Serious, and Weekend Hideaway went to the lead and set splits of 22.29 seconds and 45.16 in the six-furlong stakes for New York-breds. Weekend Hideaway was the first to drop out in upper stretch, and I’m Stoked and Captain Serious continued to battle.

Loki’s Vengeance, who has speed but was a bit farther back than usual in fifth position, was kept to the rail by apprentice Angel Cruz and took the lead inside the battling leaders in midstretch. He went on to win by 1 3/4 lengths and was timed in 1:09.80.

“He broke fast, but I took a hold of him and sat behind the horses,” Cruz said. “I had the best trip in the race and went through on the rail. My horse has speed, but the instruction was to wait and see how the pace unfolded.”

Empire Dreams, 25-1, raced farther back than Loki’s Vengeance and came running late to gain second. John’s Island, at least a dozen lengths back on the far turn, finished full of run to get up for third, three-quarters of a length behind Empire Dreams and a neck in front of the fourth-place finisher Captain Serious.

Weekend Hideaway tired to finish last as the 3-1 second choice.

Loki’s Vengeance, trained by Mike Hushion, paid $25.20. The $2 exacta with Empire Dreams returned $390, and the $1 trifecta with John’s Island paid $866.

Cruz, the leading rider at the Aqueduct main-track meet, now has three career stakes wins. He previously had won the Gold Fever Stakes at Belmont Park on El Deal last Friday and the Private Term Stakes at Laurel with Bridget’s Big Luvy on March 21.