R Clear Victory switches up in Robb win

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Though most of his success had come when on the lead, R Clear Victory demonstrated Sunday that he could win from off the pace as well, overtaking pace-setting South Fourth St. in midstretch en route to a 1 1/2-length victory in the $81,500 Alex M. Robb Handicap for New York-breds at Aqueduct.

Breaking from the 11 post under Stewart Elliott, R Clear Victory was third early on, moved into second down the backstretch before overpowering South Fourth St. outside the eighth pole. R Clear Victory, trained by Steve Asmussen, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.85 and returned $23.80. Icabad Crane finished in third.

R Clear Victory, a 5-year-old son of Victory Gallop, has now on 7 of 27 starts and earned $326,648. He is owned by Coastal Racing Stable.

R Clear Victory was one of two wins on the Aqueduct card for Asmussen, who is now 7-for-13 since the inner track opened on Dec. 3. Asmussen won four races nationally Sunday, and now his one-year record stands at 616.