Nicky the Vest dominates Gander Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Nicky the Vest validated his solid debut victory eight weeks ago here with an even more impressive second start, rolling to an 11 3/4-length, front-running triumph in Sunday’s $100,000 Gander Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds going a mile at Aqueduct.

After sparring on the lead outside of Lobsta for a half-mile, Nicky the Vest opened up a clear lead at the quarter pole then widened his advantage through the stretch while being wrapped up late by jockey Kendrick Carmouche.

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Lobsta held second by a half-length over Perfect Munnings, who was a nose in front of Dancing Buck. Horn of Plenty was fifth, followed by Uno and Re Created.

Not only did Nicky the Vest make it 2 for 2, but he gave the Claiborne Farm stallion Runhappy his first stakes winner.

Nicky the Vest also may have earned himself a start in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes here on March 6. The Gotham, like Nicky the Vest’s first two starts, is run as a one-turn mile.

“Because we gave him 60 days in between his maiden and this start, I’d say I feel comfortable that we could contemplate that for sure, but we’ll leave it up to the team,” said Jonathan Thomas, who trains the Triple Crown-nominated Nicky the Vest for owner Robert LaPenta.

As a first-time starter in a field of 12, Nicky the Vest was a 3 1/4-length victor of his debut on Dec. 18 against New York-breds. He ran a mile in 1:40.67 that day.

Carmouche, who rode Nicky the Vest that day, said the colt was a little bit nervous because he had warmed him up aggressively. Sunday, Carmouche kept him away from the pony and opted to save Nicky the Vest’s aggressiveness for the race.

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Nicky the Vest broke well and Carmouche was content to allow Lobsta, under Eric Cancel, to have the early lead. Nicky the Vest was within a half-length of Lobsta through a quarter in 23.61 seconds and a half-mile in 47.17. Nicky the Vest poked a head in front at the three-eighths pole, opened up a two-length advantage by the quarter pole, and after a few taps of Carmouche’s left-handed whip he widened the advantage through the lane.

“As long as I got my horse going at the pace that he’s going, I don’t worry about the person next to me or who’s coming or nothing,” Carmouche said. “He’s in a good stride. I figure once I ask him, once he switches leads, he should respond, and as you can see he got me to the winner’s circle.”

Nicky the Vest covered the mile in 1:37.94 and returned $4.30 as the even-money favorite.

“We didn’t want to get him in behind horses and kind of take dirt,” Thomas said. “That’s still an unknown variable with him - what’s going to happen if he gets in a situation where he has to take some dirt? We didn’t want to do that today.”

* Jockey Eric Cancel recorded his first career four-win day Sunday at Aqueduct. He won the third on Vallarand ($7.60), the fourth on Mosienko ($2.90), the fifth on Hammerin Aamer ($9.80), and the ninth on Betsy Blue ($3.10).

Cancel, who also had three seconds on Sunday, is the second-leading rider at the meet in wins with 43, eight behind Carmouche.