Two-year-olds Antonio of Venice and My Shea D Lady took home the top prizes in their respective divisions in the rich New York Stallion Series stakes Dec. 16 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
My Shea D Lady got the victory in the $500,000 New York-bred juvenile fillies division, rocketing home by 2 1/2 lengths for owner Shea D Boy’s Stables and trainer Carlos David.
Chasing the pacesetters early under jockey Javier Castellano, My Shea D Lady cut the corner turning into the lane and powered through a seam on the fence en route to her first stakes win. My Shea D Lady ($7.50) raced the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:25.91.
Walk With Me rallied late under Dylan Davis to be second. Longshot Elite Status was third.
My Shea D Lady wins the NYSS Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Aqueduct
My Shea D Lady, bred by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, became the second stakes winner for first-crop sire Solomini .
A race later, the Laoban colt Antonio of Venice thrived over the extra ground to score in the seven-furlong, $500,000 New York-bred juvenile males division.
Pinched badly at the break, Antonio of Venice was forced to run from just off the pace under jockey Manny Franco. Encountering traffic trouble at the top of the stretch, he regrouped and angled into the clear at the eighth pole, surging past his rivals late to win by three-quarters of a length.
Brick Ambush finished second but was placed last for interference at the quarter pole, and first-time starter Heavyweight Champs , who is also trained Rodriguez, was moved up from third.
“He (Antonio of Venice) ran unbelievable,” said trainer Rudy Rodriguez. I’m just very, very happy with the way he (ran). The other horse (Heavyweight Champs) went, so I was just rooting for any of my horses. I saw him coming up the outside and thought, ‘Oh, it’s the other one!’ We’re very excited and very happy with the way they ran.”
“Maybe he wants to run from behind. He got a lot of kickback along the rail and then was able to come outside. I don’t know (what’s next). These guys (the owners) want to bet him in the pool for the (Kentucky) Derby,” Rodriguez added.
Bred by Cypress Creek Equine, Antonio of Venice ($14.60) stopped the timer in 1:24.40. Campaigned in partnership by Michael Imperio, Robert Cotrone, Hibiscus Stables, and Rodriguez, the $35,000 purchase picked up his first black-type win.
Video: New York Stallion Series S. (BT)
Video: New York Stallion Series S. (BT)
