Stormin Monarcho dominates Mr. Sinatra Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The class of the field on paper, Stormin Monarcho proved the classiest - and more importantly, the fastest - horse on the track as he galloped to a 7 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Mr. Sinatra Stakes at Aqueduct.

The Mr. Sinatra was the richest of 10 stakes races which comprised the inaugural New York Claiming Championships. Despite its lofty purse and open conditions, the Mr. Sinatra drew only a field of five.

It was only last fall that Stormin Monarcho won three stakes in four tries over an 11-week period. After going off form in his last three races, he found a nice soft field that he could beat up on in the Mr. Sinatra.

Under Cornelio Velasquez, Stormin Monarcho ($5.10) stalked he pacesetting Celebrated Talent through a quarter mile in 24.04 seconds, a half-mile in 47.43, and six furlongs in 1:11.96. Turning for home, Stormin Monarcho took control of the race and he was never threatened in the stretch.

Spa City Fever rallied to get second, 2 1/4 lengths in front of Don Dulce, who nosed out Celebrated Talent for third. Howl finished last.

Both Stormin Monarch and Spa City Fever are trained by David Jacobson, who had won the $50,000 Videogenic one race earlier with Room For Me.

“He ran a very good race,” said assistant trainer Paul Wilson, who saddled the horses for Jacobson, who is in Dubai preparing Salutos Amigos for next week’s $2 million Golden Shaheen. “I thought maybe [Spa City Fever] was going to set it up for him but, he sat right off the four and picked up the pieces.”