Churchtown wins the Gio Ponti beneath Junior Alvarado (NYRA/Coglianese)
By Mary Eddy – NYRA Press Workplace
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— W. B. Harrigan and Mike Pietrangelo’s Kentucky homebred Churchtown posted a sport wire-to-wire victory for Corridor of Fame coach Roger Attfield in Saturday’s $135,000 Gio Ponti, a 1 1/16-mile outer turf route for 3-year-olds, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Ridden to victory by Junior Alvarado, the son of Air Pressure Blue shipped in from Woodbine Racetrack to earn the primary stakes victory of his profession on the heels of a pace-pressing runner-up effort within the Toronto Cup on the Ontario oval, the place he scored two allowance dash victories earlier this yr. His different win was a debut rating final October over the Woodbine Tapeta earlier than ending a pacesetting fourth within the Grade 3 Gray.
Attfield mentioned going to the entrance made sense right now for Churchtown.
“In his final race, he didn’t must be close to the lead. He does higher when he stalks a little bit bit they usually had him close to the lead and he simply obtained caught,” mentioned Attfield over the telephone from Florida. “However once they went as gradual as they did right now, after all he could be on the lead. He’s a really real operating horse.”
Churchtown broke alertly from the within publish and made the early lead for the primary time since an in depth runner-up effort in allowance firm in December at Gulfstream Park. Longshot Riot Home tracked to his exterior in second as the sphere rounded the primary flip by way of a gap quarter-mile in 25.09 seconds over the agency footing.
With Churchtown and Riot Home sustaining place down the backstretch, Todd Pletcher-trained stablemates Grand Sonata and post-time favourite Regular On raced on even phrases for third after passing the half-mile name. Positions remained unchanged till Riot Home made a gentle bid approaching the flip with Regular On looming three-wide beneath a powerful journey from Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Churchtown dug in gamely nearing the highest of the stretch as Riot Home retreated and Grand Sonata superior alongside the rail, making progress as Regular On put in his run down the middle of the racetrack after three-quarters in 1:14.30. Alvarado implored his mount for extra and Churchtown answered, staving off a flying end from Regular On by a half-length in a closing time of 1:44.48.
Regular On bested Grand Sonata by a neck for place honors, adopted by a rallying Dakota Gold to spherical out the superfecta. Riot Home, who was squeezed again at first, Depraved Quick, Marinara Sauced, Ohtwoohthreefive and Wow Whata Summer season accomplished the order of end. Primary-track solely entrant Be Higher was scratched.
Attfield mentioned the others didn’t have a prayer after the average tempo.
“After I noticed the primary quarter in that point, I believed, my God, he must be on the lead,” mentioned Attfield. “They had been simply strolling. They went the half so gradual and I believed they might not catch him. It labored out good.”
Alvarado, who rode Churchtown for the primary time, mentioned the gelding made the lead simply.
“They didn’t give me any directions, however being within the one-hole, I believed I didn’t have a lot alternative however to ship him out of there and try to take the lead,” mentioned Alvarado. “He responded very nicely. He took the lead after which after that, he just about knew what to do. Turning for house, instantly he had an excellent turn-of-foot and I knew there could be sufficient for me to hold to the wire.”
Attfield mentioned Churchtown, who returned $13.20 for a $2 win wager, might goal the $100,000 Tropical Park Derby on December 26 at Gulfstream Park subsequent.
“Off of that race, I’ll in all probability have a look at the Derby right here on the finish of the yr,” Attfield mentioned.
Churchtown grew to become the fifth particular person stakes winner this yr for Attfield, who lately loved a memorable Breeders’ Cup in tandem with owner-breeder Charles Fipke. There, he posted a runner-up effort from 55-1 shot Shirl’s Speight within the Grade 1 Mile and a third-place end within the Grade 1 Filly and Mare Turf with 32-1 Woman Speightspeare. Seasoned bettors could have cashed in on Attfield’s earlier big-day prowess within the 2011 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at 27-1 with Good Shirl – the dam of Shirl’s Speight.
Attfield mentioned that Woman Speightspeare, a 4-year-old Speightstown chestnut, is slated to start out within the Grade 3, $500,000 Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf Invitational on January 28 at Gulfstream Park.
“That’s the purpose for her. We simply hope it doesn’t get too scorching. She hates it scorching,” Attfield mentioned. “She’s doing nice. Her and Shirl’s Speight are each down right here.”
Attfield mentioned a global endeavor might be within the playing cards for Shirl’s Speight.
“They’d prefer to go to Japan in February with him, however we’d do one thing earlier than that with him if we are able to. I’ll have to speak to Mr. Fipke about that,” Attfield mentioned.
The Gio Ponti was the primary victory on the Large A for Attfield for the reason that 2010 Grade 3 Lengthy Island Handicap with Mekong Melody, however the affable coach additionally boasts vital Aqueduct scores within the 1993 Grade 1 Carter Handicap with Alydeed together with Grade 2 scores in 1995 with Talkin Man within the Gotham and Wooden Memorial.
Reside racing resumes Sunday on the Large A with a 10-race card, that includes the $100,000 Key Cents in Race 3 and the $135,000 Without end Collectively in Race 7. First publish is 11:50 a.m. Japanese.
America’s Day on the Races will current dwell protection and evaluation of the Aqueduct fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports activities. For the published schedule and channel finder, go to https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.
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