Village King narrowly beats Soglio in Red Smith

When the $200,000 Red Smith at Aqueduct on Saturday was taken off the turf and shortened from 1 3/8 miles to 1 1/8 miles, it appeared that the main-track-only runners who drew into the scratch-reduced field of six held an advantage. But after they dueled themselves into submission in midstretch, two original entrants were left to fight it out, with Village King winning a very tight head bob over Soglio.

Control Group broke alertly and went to the early lead, while Exulting broke a step slowly. Both main-track-only runners were sent off at 2-1, with Exulting, last weekend's winner of the off-the-turf Artie Schiller at Aqueduct, favored by $1,660.

Exulting quickly recovered from his slow beginning and rushed up to take a clear lead on the first turn through an opening quarter of 25.20 seconds. At this point, Control Group raced along the inside with Village King between horses and Soglio on the outside.

Following a half-mile in 50.49, Control Group moved up to contest the pace inside Exulting, with Village King and Soglio settling right behind them. Turning for home, Village King and Soglio appeared to brush as jockey Javier Castellano attempted to get Village King outside the leaders and John Velazquez held his ground on Exulting.

Castellano then swung Village King down to the rail while Soglio stayed outside Control Group and Exulting. Village King came away with a short lead in the final sixteenth, but Soglio kept coming. At the wire, the two were on even terms, with Village King putting his nose down at the right moment.

"I kept tracking the two speed horses up front," Castellano said. "I was able to cover up a little bit and save all the ground. On the inside, turning for home, I tried to get out.

"It was too close to call. I mean, basically it could have gone either way."

Village King paid $11.80 as the third betting choice. He was timed in 1:52.95 over a fast track following six furlongs in 1:15.16 and a mile in 1:40.10.

Control Group finished third, two lengths behind Soglio and three-quarters of a length ahead of fourth-place Exulting.

Todd Pletcher trains Village King, who was making his third start in the United States after going 3 for 5 in his native Argentina, including a victory in the Group 1, $288,000 Jockey Club and a third-place finish in the Group 1, $605,000 Carlos Pellegrini, South America's premier race.

Village King finished fourth in optional-claiming company on turf at Churchill Downs in September while making his North American debut and then just missed when third by a head on turf after showing improved early speed last month at Belmont Park.

"This horse had trained pretty well on the dirt; he had also run well in South America on the dirt, so we felt it was worth a try," Pletcher said of staying in the Smith after it was taken off the grass. "He kept fighting and cut the corner, and we ended up on the right end of a head bob. It kind of gives us a ton of options going forward from here."

The 4-year-old colt, owned by the Angels of Catalina Inc., is now 2 for 2 on dirt and 2 for 6 on turf. He has earnings of $358,000.

Soglio, who was making his 23rd start and his dirt debut, is trained by Mike Maker.

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