Alpha emerges victorious from the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga
Alpha, finally turned in a much expected performance when he landed the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on 28th July, 2012.
He was guided well by trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, and rider Ramon Dominguez. With this victory, now the talented runner is headed for much bigger victories, and will now compete in the $1 million Travers Stakes on 25th
August at Saratoga as the favourite.
With his talent and brisk pace, he dominated the 1 1/8 mile and finished two lengths ahead of the Ian Wilkes trained, Neck’n Neck while the Bob Baffert trained, Liaison, stood third.
The fourth place was taken by the Michael Matz trained, Teeth Of The Dog and Kelly Breen’s charge, My Adonis, finished fifth.
The strategy that the trainer adopted was to take the lead as soon as the race started, and that is exactly the event unfolded.
He completed the first quarter mile in 24.40 seconds, half-mile in 49.30 seconds and the six furlong mark in 1 minute and 14.03 seconds, and kept the competition at bay and completed the race in 1 minute and 50.47 seconds.
Regarding this strategy, the winning jockey commented:
"I found myself in front and relaxed at the same time, very happy that I wasn't getting any immediate challenge, so I was able to get away with the slowest fractions you possibly can in this type of race."
The trainer had the same thoughts as the rider and told the media that:
"When you're in the one hole here you need to go."
McLaughlin added: "He thought the same way I did. He said if he breaks well I'm going. He wasn't going to rush him off his feet, but he wanted to be on the lead, so it was a great call and it all worked out."
The Godolphin owned winner had a bad spell when he finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby, and faced another setback by coming down with a fever for the Belmont Stakes.
He is back in his winning form and ready to join the ranks of those, who take on the Travers Stakes lineup, right after the Jim Dandy Stakes.
The son of Bernardini, foaled by mare Munnaya, now has an overall record of 4-2-0 in eight starts and earnings of $860,000.
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