Warheart ships in, leads all the way in Atlantic Beach

Kentucky shipper Warheart led all the way in a comfortable score under Julien Leparoux in Friday’s $135,000 Atlantic Beach Stakes at Aqueduct.

Turning back off a troubled run in the Grade 2 Bourbon at Keeneland, Warheart showed surprising speed after breaking from the outside in the eight-horse field of 2-year-olds.

Colonel Bob pressed Warheart through the turn on the outside before dropping back around the quarter pole. After fractions of 22.33 and 45.17, Warheart opened up a clear lead at the head of the stretch before coasting home on top by four lengths, in a final time of 1:08.71 over the firm ground.

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Super Swift came from an inside stalking position to finish second on his left lead. Dumb Money wound up third and was followed by Shoot the Nickel, Colonel Bob, Ghostly Rose, Joey Muscles, and 2-1 favorite Epitaph.

Warheart earned $74,250 in his first stakes win for owner DAARS Inc. and trainer Rodolphe Brisset. The Kentucky-bred son of hot young sure Omaha Beach paid $8.20 as the third choice in the betting.

After ending up second in his debut at Colonial, Warheart earned his diploma second-time out from a forward position in a seven-furlong maiden special at Kentucky Downs. He finished seventh in the Bourbon after steadying early in the 1 1/16-mile event.

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