Surging Antonio of Venice takes Times Square division of NY Stallion Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The improving Antonio of Venice won his third stakes in the last four months by overtaking his speedy stablemate Heavyweight Champs approaching the top of the stretch and cruising to a 2 1/4-length victory in the $200,000 Times Square division of the New York Stallion Stakes on Sunday.

A stalking Doc Sullivan finished second, 4 3/4 lengths ahead of the first-time starter Grand Opening. Freedsdale was fourth, followed by Cable Ready, Heavyweight Champs and Black Almighty.

Antonio of Venice added the Times Square to victories in the Great White Way division of the NYSS in December and the Damon Runyon last month. While Antonio of Venice won the Damon Runyon by nearly 10 lengths, he might have been more impressive Sunday, given his time of 1:15.32 seconds for 6 1/2 furlongs albeit over a fast track.

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Under Manny Franco, Antonio of Venice set up right off his Rudy Rodriguez-trained stablemate Heavyweight Champs. Antonio of Venice was a half-length back after an opening quarter in 22.15 seconds.

Antonio of Venice joined his stablemate at the three-furlong pole. He took control after a half-mile in 44.73 seconds and easily held a hard-trying Doc Sullivan at bay to the wire.

Antonio of Venice, a son of Laoban owned by Michael Imperio, Robert Cotrone, Hibiscus Stables and Rodriguez, returned $4.50 as the favorite.

“He’s getting better every race, you can see today it was a serious time,” Franco said.

It wasn’t long ago that Rodriguez thought Heavyweight Champs might be a better horse than Antonio of Venice. He doesn’t think that now.

Antonio of Venice “is in a different league right now,” Rodriguez said. “It looks like he’s improving every time. We’re happy he keeps improving. Hopefully, he keeps doing that.”

Antonio of Venice had raced five times between May and September last year. Rodriguez gave him a freshening before the Great White Way in December and he believes it paid dividends.

“He got bigger and stronger,” Rodriguez said. “He looks like he’s a sprinter, to tell you the truth. I thought he was going to get longer and skinnier, he just got bigger.”

The next Stallion Stakes, open to progeny of New York-based stallions, for 3-year-olds are on turf. Antonio of Venice will have plenty of options for his next start including an open company stakes or the $125,000 Mike Lee for New York-breds at Saratoga on June 9.

Sunday Girl takes Park Avenue

Sunday Girl made it 2 for 2 in her young career with a front-running, three-length victory in the $200,000 Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes.

Using the outside draw to her advantage, Katie Davis kept Sunday Girl several paths away from longshot Bustin Time as the two raced down the backstretch. Davis gradually moved Sunday Girl alongside Bustin Time, poked her head in front at the five-sixteenths pole then gradually began to pull away in the stretch. Though she switched back to her left lead at the eighth pole, Sunday Girl was still a clear-cut winner over My Shea D Lady, who finished second by 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Sohana.

“I surprised her with the one hit,” Davis said when asked about the lead change. “That’s just her being green, she’ll learn, she’s a fidgety filly.”

Trainer David Duggan said a lack of seasoning was his biggest concern for Sunday Girl coming into the Park Avenue. She had only one prior start, which she won by 7 1/4 lengths.

“The question mark going in was seasoning and I think she passed that test,” Duggan said.

The next test will be seven furlongs in the $125,000 Bouwerie at Saratoga on June 9.

“The punches are going to get tougher now, I'm very realistic,” Duggan said. “You're in a very good position going into the next stake. If she holds form or improves a little bit, she'll be right there. I’m not going to get carried away with any illusions of grandeur, but I think I’m going in the right direction.”

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