Lubash wins West Point Stakes for second time

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Lubash parlayed a perfect stalking trip behind the leaders into his second win in the West Point Stakes at Saratoga on Friday.

In all, Lubash was making his fifth consecutive start in the West Point, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for New York-breds. He also won the race in 2012, finished second by a head to King Kreesa last year, and was fourth in 2013 and 2011.

Lubash, 8, was reserved early behind the pacesetting Notacatbutallama and King Kreesa, who was tracking in second. Jockey Junior Alvarado wheeled Lubash outside the leaders in upper stretch, and he rallied to take the lead outside of King Kreesa in the final sixteenth and score by a length.

King Kreesa went to the lead when the gates opened but was soon overtaken from the outside by Notacatbutallama, who seemed intent on making the lead. King Kreesa was rank nearing the clubhouse turn and on the turn as jockey Jose Ortiz tried to settle him down.

Notacatbutallama set a leisurely pace of 24.67 and 49.22 seconds. King Kreesa threw his head again momentarily nearing the far turn as Ortiz tried to take a new hold and then moved up outside to challenge on the far turn through six furlongs in 1:13.28.

King Kreesa took the lead in upper stretch but could not match strides with Lubash and finished second. Notacatbutallama finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind King Kreesa.

Trainer Christophe Clement said Lubash had been injured in a backstretch incident at Belmont Park following his last race.

"I was very worried about him. He got hurt after his last race, and I could not train him for two weeks," Clement said. "He overcame everything. He is a great horse."

Lubash paid $5 as the second choice behind the 6-5 King Kreesa. The closing fractions were quick, with the mile going in 1:37.01 and a final time of 1:43.04.

Clement said the Ashley T. Cole, a $125,000 stakes for New York-breds at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Belmont Park, was a likely next race.

"My owner is encouraging me to try something more ambitious,” he said. “There is the Woodbine Mile on Sept. 13, but it is hard to pass the New York-bred stakes with a horse like him," Clement said.

Lubash won last year's Cole by a neck over King Kreesa, avenging his head loss in the West Point.

Orino, who finished fourth, was bumped by Notacatbutallama soon after the start.