Uncle T Seven helps Kimmel get Belmont meet off to good start

Trainer John Kimmel was certainly not sad to see the Saratoga meet come to an end. Kimmel went just 1 for 41 at the Spa, losing with his last 38 starters since the 2-year-old filly Silvislip won a maiden race on opening day.

Sunday, Kimmel got his Belmont fall meet off to a successful start when Uncle T Seven - his first starter at the meet - stormed down the middle of the inner turf course, outfinishing Pocket Cowboys and Gimme Credit to win the $100,000 Ashley T. Cole Stakes for New York-breds by 1 1/2 lengths.

Pocket Cowboys finished second by one-half length over Gimme Credit, the 2-1 favorite.

Uncle T Seven won for the first time in four starts this year and fifth from 18 lifetime races. This was his fourth stakes win, second on turf.

Under Julien Leparoux, Uncle T Seven raced in fifth position, about seven lengths back while Spa City Fever and Writingonthewall alternated on the lead through six furlongs in 1:13.40 with Pocket Cowboys and Gimme Credit in third and fourth, respectively.

Approaching the quarter pole, Leparoux had Uncle T Seven in contention, swung him five wide in upper stretch, and outside the sixteenth pole he roared past Pocket Cowboys and Gimme Credit. Uncle T Seven, a 4-year-old son of Freud owned by Thomas Mina, Suzann Bobley, Dennis Brida, and MFRG Racing, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.88 over firm turf and returned $7.10 as the second choice.

“That was really nice,” Kimmel said. “We anticipated some pace up front and the instructions were basically to sit behind the speed, and then make a run at them and hope they [came] back, and that’s what happened.”

Kimmel said Uncle T Seven would be pointed to the $100,000 Mohawk Handicap on New York Showcase Day, Oct. 23. He would also be considered for the $200,000 Empire Classic on the dirt the same day.