Sea Foam shows grit in winning Notebook Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Two months ago, Sea Foam wasn’t good enough to pass Stoney Bennett in a maiden race at Belmont Park. On Sunday, Sea Foam wouldn’t let Stoney Bennett pass him in the $100,000 Notebook Stakes for New York-bred juvenile males at Aqueduct.

After stalking the pacesetting Morning Breez for the opening half-mile, Sea Foam, under Nik Juarez, confronted Morning Breez turning for home, with Stoney Bennett just to his outside. Sea Foam overtook Morning Breez at the sixteenth pole and edged away from Stoney Bennett to win the Notebook by a length. Stoney Bennett, the 4-5 favorite, finished second by a half-length over Morning Breez. It was 4 3/4 lengths farther back to We Should Talk, who was followed by Inalienable Rights, Analyze the Odds, What a Catch and Mr. Pete.

The win was the second straight for Sea Foam, a son of Medaglia d’Oro owned by Waterville Lake Stable and trained by Christophe Clement.

Juarez rode Sea Foam to a maiden win Nov. 3 and said he learned that the horse was pretty game when he turned aside Gio d’Oro to win by a neck. Still, when Stoney Bennett was right off him at the quarter pole, Juarez said, “I thought he was going by, but Sea Foam really dug in.”

Sea Foam covered the six furlongs in 1:12.79 and returned $14.20 to win.

“I don’t think the favorite was going to get by,” said Christophe Lorieul, assistant to Clement. “Nick said every time [Stoney Bennett] was coming at him, he was trying a little bit more.”

Lorieul said Sea Foam likely will get a break and return in the spring.