Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and Gainesway Stable’s Craftiness gather the gamut down the lane to spin in a recalcitrant Highly respected arrow and won $200,000 Bay Shore Stakes (G3), a seven-times sprint for sophomores at Aqueduct race track April 9th.
Coached by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Wit was sent in as the warm side’s favorite 2-1 on his season debut and did not disappoint.
“The wins get better every year,” said co-owner Mike Repole. “That’s the track I’ve been on since I was 13, and 40 years later, winning the ranking bonus here is really special. I–100%–thought we had lost; It was a special victory. Todd and I have been friends for a long time. It’s fun. “
Jose Ortiz, a three-time card winner, guided Wit into fifth-place stalking as Fromanothamutha led the field over half a mile in: 22.21 seconds and a half mile in: 45.55 on the fast main track.
Wit took a wide, menacing step near the exit to the outside of Scaramouche and Highly Respect, the latter of which pushed among rivals midway through to take command from the fading leader with a bold move under Manny Franco.
Highly Respect opened up a two-way advantage on the extended call as Ortiz went to work on a determined Wit, who found another device late and closed to win 1:23.27 on aggregate. .
Ortiz said Wit, who was plagued by a slow start last year, has improved his gate habits.
“Off the bench, Pletcher got him ready, that’s the most important thing. I went to the Palm Beach Downs last week to help him out the gate,” Ortiz said. “His problem last year was that he was immature when he was in the gate and he would stand there clumsily and slowly. When he was 3 years old he was more mature and he played better. He’s sitting in a nice spot today. Approaching the pole, Manny slipped through the hole and I think he got me. But my horse showed his class. Well trained and ready.”
Rainbow put Wit and Jose Ortiz in the winner’s circle
Franco said Highly Respected People can only improve.
“My horse ran great the second time around. He’s still a kid and I think he has a bright future ahead of him,” Franco said.
It’s a 4 1/2 longer passage back to Life Is Great in season three with List of Deans Scaramouche, Juggling artist Fromanothamutha, and Eliminated round to end order. Runninsonofagun and Dr. Jeff scratched.
Wit, by Realistic jokes , was purchased for $575,000 at last year’s September 2020 Sale of Keeneland from the shipment of his breeder, Rosilyn Polan. He graduated debuting in June at Belmont Park and followed by an eight-minute walk at the Sanford Stakes (G3) at Racecourse Saratoga. The talented Dark Bay closed its minors campaign with efforts at the Hope Stocks (G1) in September in Saratoga and the Champagne Stocks (G1) in October in Belmont .
He is one of two winners of the underrated Medaglia d’Oro mare Numero d’Oro prize, the other being a 3rd place winner Barkley (Munnings ). The dam’s smallest pony is a City of light yearning pony.
Video: Bay Shore S. (G3)
