Sea Foam best in New York Derby, Split Time takes Oaks

Sea Foam was sent to the lead by leading Finger Lakes rider Jaime Rodriguez and never relinquished it in the $150,000 New York Derby on Saturday. Sea Foam won the 1 1/16-mile race for New York-bred 3-year-year-olds by 3 1/4 lengths over 13-1 Spectacular Kid, who raced closest to him throughout.

The win was the first at Finger Lakes for Christophe Clement, who trains Sea Foam for the Waterville Lake Stable. Sea Foam paid $6.20 as second choice in the six-horse field to 3-5 Analyze the Odds.

Sea Foam set comfortable fractions of 24.68 and 49.29 in the New York Derby while being stalked by Spectacular Kid. On the far turn, Spectacular Kid challenged in earnest and the pair pulled away from the rest of the field.

Sea Foam appeared to come out slightly nearing the stretch and made light contact with Spectacular Kid, and then proved best in the stretch.

Jockey Sanchez Hernandez on Spectacular Kid lodged an objection against the winner, but it was not allowed.

Analyze the Odds rallied belatedly to finish third, two lengths behind Spectacular Kid.

Sea Foam completed the course in 1:46.19 following six furlongs in 1:14.14 and a mile in 1:39.47.

The New York Derby was Sea Foam's second stakes win. The son of Medaglia d'Oro won the Notebook at Aqueduct last November. He has now won three of his eight starts.

Clement legged up Sea Foam for the New York Derby by running him against open company in the Manila, a one-mile turf stakes at Belmont Park on July 4. He finished fifth of six.

New York Oaks: Split Time pulls away

Split Time rallied from several lengths off the pace to win the $75,000 New York Oaks by two lengths under jockey Junior Alvarado, who was riding for the first time at Finger Lakes.

Alvarado settled Split Time early. They were put in tight quarters on the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile race, but Split Time showed a good turn of foot once clear. She came three wide into the stretch, took the lead outside the battling leaders nearing the sixteenth pole, and edged away.

Split Time paid $7.80 as the second choice in the 10-horse field of statebred 3-year-old fillies. She was timed in 1:47.00.

English Soul, the 9-5 favorite, set the pace in the Oaks while being pressed by 14-1 Crashing Connie, who had won four straight races at the Finger Lakes meet. English Soul won a very close photo for second over Crashing Connie.

The win was Split Time's fourth stakes this year for trainer Linda Rice and Tic Stables. She has now won five of six starts in 2018.

Split Time has won two other New York-bred stakes, the Maddie May at Aqueduct in March and the Bouwerie at Belmont Park in May. In her start prior to the New York Oaks, she defeated open company in the Alma North at Laurel Park.

Woman Power and New Girl in Town were fanned three and four wide on the pace into the first turn.

Our Super Nova took up sharply along the inner rail on the far turn.