New York Central gets first stakes win in Maryland Sprint

BALTIMORE – Ricardo Santana Jr. bided his time aboard New York Central in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint while tracking Lewisfield and Wentz, who pressed each other on the lead through fractions of 22.65 and 44.84 seconds. Entering the stretch, Santana pointed New York Central down to the inner rail, and he took the lead in midstretch and edged away to a 1 3/4-length victory Saturday at Pimlico.

“I had a lot of horse at the three-eighths pole,” Santana said. “I just tried not to move too soon. When I asked him, he took off.”

The $150,000 Maryland Sprint was the first stakes victory for New York Central, a $750,000 yearling purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale in 2016 who is trained by Steve Asmussen and owned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and his breeder, the SF Racing of George Soros.

New York Central went to the sidelines following a second-place finish in the Pat Day Mile last May. He won a second-level optional-claiming race at Oaklawn Park in his February return and finished fifth in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland last month.

“He had a little bit of an issue behind after the Pat Day Mile, and we were real patient with him,” said Elliott Walden, president and chief executive of WinStar Farm. “I think it’s really paid off.”

New York Central paid $6.60 as the third wagering choice in the six-horse field. He completed six furlongs in 1:08.74.

Proforma, who received a beautiful stalking trip behind Lewisfield and Wentz, went outside the leaders for the stretch drive but could not match strides with the winner and finished second. It was a half-length back to Lewisfield in third and another three lengths back to Wentz in fourth.

Walden said New York Central is probably going to be a “one-turn horse” and will race at distances between six furlongs and a mile. He said New York Central could be pointed to stakes at the Saratoga meet. The Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt will be run at six furlongs July 27, and the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego at seven furlongs is Aug. 24.

Always Sunshine was scratched from the Maryland Sprint this morning after having an allergic reaction and developing a hematoma on his neck.