Willa On the Move takes Xtra Heat

ELMONT, N.Y. - It took an assist from the stewards, but Willa On the Move finally became a stakes winner on Friday at Belmont Park.

Though Willa On the Move was beaten a nose by longshot Redhead Riot in the $65,550 , she was moved up to first after the stewards deemed that Redhead Riot interfered with Willa on the Move in the stretch. It was 8 3-4 lengths back to Fresh Tracks in third.

Redhead Riot was outsprinted for the lead by Mooji Moo for the early lead. Redhead Riot, under Javier Castellano, came through on the rail and took the lead turning for home. Willa on the Move, under John Velazquez, was rallying five wide in the stretch and raced erratically down the lane.

The two brushed lightly in deep stretch, but the stewards ruled that Redhead Riot continued to carry out Willa On the Move to the wire.

The final time for the six furlongs was 1:09.74 over a fast track. Willa On the Move, owned by Peter Angelos and trained by Tony Dutrow, returned $3.60 as the odds-on favorite.

Willa On the Move was one of only two favorites in the pick 6 sequence to win, resulting in a two-day carryover of $134,201 heading into Saturday's card.