William D. Schaefer: 'Windsor' rules

Windsor Castle drew off while wide in the stretch to win the Grade 3 William Donald Schaefer Handicap at 1 1/8 miles as the 117-pound highweight.

Ridden by Jose Santos, Windsor Castle bided his time while Roger E, Tempest Fugit, and Changeintheweather battled on the front end. Santos moved him quickly past the front-runners by the top of the stretch, and Windsor Castle went on to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:50.08 over the good track.

Windsor Castle, owned by Dogwood Stable, paid $11.40 as the fourth choice. Changeintheweather held on to be second, beating Tempest Fugit by 1 3/4 lengths.

Windsor Castle came into the Schaefer off a second-place finish in the sloppy Fort Marcy Handicap at Aqueduct. He was beaten 8 1/2 lengths in that race, which was won on the front end by Saint Verre.

Trainer Frank Alexander placed Windsor Castle in the Schaefer hoping to break a string of bad luck. The Fort Marcy was moved off the grass, and Saint Verre excels in wet going. Before the Fort Marcy, Windsor Castle turned in a clunker in the Gulfstream Park Handicap when he couldn't get his air during the race, Alexander said.

Strive, the favorite, finished seventh under Jerry Bailey. It was the third loss in a row for a Bailey-ridden favorite.