Nicodemus by a neck over Stan the Man in Westchester

Nicodemus edged game front-runner Stan the Man to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Westchester Stakes at Belmont Park as heavily favored Prince Lucky failed to make an impression.

Trained by Linda Rice (who won her third race on the card) for Everything’s Cricket Racing and Lawrence Goichman, Nicodemus, a 4-year-old by Candy Ride out of Leah’s Secret, by Tiger Ridge, was a mildly promising 3-year-old of 2018 but needed several months off after finishing a distant second to Hofburg in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga. A close fourth last out in the Grade 3 Excelsior over 1 1/8 miles, the third start back from the layoff, Nicodemus was cut back to a mile by Rice to good effect in the Westchester.

Realm broke on top in this one-turn mile, but Dylan Davis eased well-bet Stan the Man to the front and the pair went clear through fractions of 23.08 and 45.45 over a sloppy, sealed surface. Stan the Man raced in hand around the turn and appeared to be going easily, but Nicodemus, who had stalked the pace the whole way, emerged from between Hoffenheim and a four-wide Prince Lucky to go after the leader in upper stretch. Nicodemus and jockey Mike Luzzi collared the pacesetter just past the eighth pole but Stan the Man battled back and ran Nicodemus to a neck decision.

Sunny Ridge closed along the rail for third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Stan the Man, and was followed across the line by Hoffenheim, Realm, Prince Lucky, and Bandua. Prince Lucky, the even-money favorite, was coming off a pair of sharp stakes wins at Gulfstream Park but failed to fire Saturday. He came with a four-wide bid on the turn but always was churning his wheels and never looked like a winner.
Nicodemus paid $18.60 and was timed in 1:35.07.