Nine Route surprising even his trainer

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The 3-year-old New York-bred Nine Route has won all three of his starts since being transferred to trainer Jeremiah Englehart, and no one is more surprised about that than Englehart himself.

Nine Route made it three straight wins taking Sunday’s $100,000 Gander Stakes by three lengths. Nine Route, a son of The Factor, is owned by Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells, who races under the name August Dawn Farm.

“I didn’t like him in any of his races, and he’s done nothing but prove me wrong every time,” Englehart said.

Going into the Gander, Englehart wasn’t sure Nine Route would be able to get the mile. But put on the lead by Dylan Davis, Nine Route dictated the pace and drew away from his three opponents over an extremely sloppy track.

Nine Route, who is not Triple Crown nominated, ran a mile in 1:41.25 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 76.

With no immediate New York-bred options at Aqueduct, Nine Route will be nominated to the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, Englehart said. His participation in the March 10 Gotham will depend on what Parcells wants to do and how the race shapes up.

“I’m sure I’ll have that conversation after films tomorrow,” Englehart said Sunday.