An impressive sprinter earlier this year at Aqueduct race track, Michael Dubb’s Castle got back on track in the $97,000 Gravesend Stakes on December 18 at Big A, collecting its first win in six starts.
Sunday’s six-time sprint for kids ages 3 and up helped Chateau win a March 6 Tom Fool Handicap (G3) win at the Aqueduct, followed by an optional claim score allowed at the New York election in January.
The Chateau is ridden from the 5thmost pole in the Gravesend by Kendrick Carmouche. He broke through the most and quickly took the lead while Majestic Dunhill , who jumped in the air from pole 2, lost ground early. Jaxon Tourist settled inside the Chateau as Editor tracked in third place.
At the back, Jaxon Traveler was tilted towards the outside of Chateau, who had a 1/2 lead. The leads have open lengths on the rest of the course as the opening quarter-mile is: 23.30 and the half is: 47.22. Jaxon Traveler inched close to the bend when Carmouche had to work at the Chateau, traveling four ways from the tracks and down the center of the track.
Chateau was briefly threatened by Jaxon Traveler at the beginning of the ramp, but started kicking clearly in the sixteenth column, continuing the task with a right-handed tap of the crop from Carmouche to win the race. 3 and a half innings in the final time 1:11.26 on the fast track. He paid $5.20 for a $2 winning ticket as favorite.
Jaxon Traveler withheld a late fee for his outside from Dra Draft to finish in second with 3/4 length. Majestic Dunhill and Wendell Fong complete finish order. Favorite Morning Line Wonderwherecraigis scratched.
Carmouche says Chateau is ready for a confrontation with Jaxon Traveler.
“When the track likes his ride, he loves it,” says Carmouche. “Today, I just knew I had to mess around, stay outside, let him race. He dragged me around in there.
Chateau’s coach, Rob Atras, said he was happy to see the 6-year-old Spread back to the winner’s circle.
“I think the scratch[of Wondrwherecraigis]is a factor, but I am very pleased with the way Chateau has run,” said Atras. “He showed his speed and finished really well today.”
Atras said Chateau’s Gravesend effort has shown an improvement from his previous start, a third in the fall high handicap (G3) on November 28 at the Aqueduct.
“I think he’s moved forward,” Atras said. “It was a bit of a layoff and he had to use himself quite a bit at the start of the race and that could hold him back from going home. But the race definitely helped him and it showed. today.”
Carmouche first got a foot on the Chateau when he finished third in the race for the option in November 2020. With Carmouche in the iron for six of Chateau’s next eight starts, The pair won two races at the Aqueduct earlier this year together.
“He only really recognized him quickly when he caught up with him,” Atras said. “He rode it great again today. He took the lead and he really knows the horse. He knows the position to get him into the race and when to release him.”
Chateau improved his record to 8-10-10 in 39 starts and increased his earnings to $615,019. Dubb asked him in September 2018 for $40,000 as a teenager.
Bred in Kentucky by Preston Stables, Chateau was the first foal of the With Distinction mare Distinc Sparkle mare. His dam’s newest pony is an avid one Hoppertunity colt, and she was bred with Weigelia for the year 2022.
Videotapes: Gravesend S. (BT)
Foretold Springs Upset
Forewarned , owned and trained by Uriah St. Lewis, offered a $125,000 Queens 42-1 Hard Challenge on Sunday, a nine-time test for kids ages 3 and up at the Aqueduct.
Warning before seizing Queens County holdings in Aqueduct
Handled patiently by Dexter Haddock, Flat Out’s 6-year-old son has positioned himself in seventh place as the Empty tomb and Backsideofthemoon fought for the lead in an opening quarter at: 23.46. Empty Tomb claims backstretch down with Seconds Backsideofthemoon tracking from the inside Port of Bal when half is marked: 48.37.
Forewarned with the aim of approaching the final turn and moving well outside Olliemyboy with a slight separation between Backsideofthemoon’s front three, Empty Tomb and Bal Harbor.
Haddock asked Forewarned for more turns and the long shot responded by surging past the weary Bal Harbor before surging past Empty Tomb and stubborn Backsideofthemoon for a 1/4 win in a final time of 1:51.90.
Empty Tomb finished exactly that by taking on the Backsideofthemoon with Olliemyboy, who stumbled at the beginning, rounding up super perfectly. Bal Harbor, Mysterious night , Bourbonic , You must take responsibility , and Shooger Ray Too round to end order.
Enduring Forewarned, who paid $86 to win, has a 10-7-4 record from 45 starts and has earnings of $762,383. He was purchased for $40,000 by St. Lewis’ Trin-Brook Stable from shipper Bill Reightler, agent for Preston Stables, at the December 2018 Fasig-Tipton Mixed Sale.
“He did a good job in this race. The problem with him is that he wants longer distances,” St. Lewis said. “The longer the better and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The win marks the second major victory of Haddock’s career, who says Forewarned benefits from the speed match.
Haddock said: “I saw a couple of horses fighting ahead on the first turn. “I knew I had a lot of horses when I moved mine and he ran really fast in the end. He had a really good workout in the morning, and he feels good today.”
Another Flat Out son bred by Preston Stables, Forewarned, the Ohio foal, was the first pony in Fortune Play for the big winning Five Star mares. The mare’s most recent mare is an aspiration Realistic jokes dirty and she was bred with Map of Liam for the year 2022.
Videotapes: Queens County S. (BT)
