Boisterous defended his Knickerbocker Stakes title successfully at Belmont Park
Shug McGaughey trained 5-year-old horse, Boisterous, returned to the Belmont Park’s turf course for the third time this season, but this time for entirely different and personal reasons. The aim for the Distorted Humor colt was to defend his title in the
Grade 3, $150,000 Knickerbocker Stakes, and he successfully did it on 13 October, 2012, at Belmont Park.
Sent as the even money favourite, Boisterous ran like a horse whose been heavily backed, and once he swung off the far turn, Jose Lezcano shook him up and the duo overhauled the front runners to post a 2 length victory.
Phipps Stable’s Boisterous was coming off a 9th place finish in the Grade 1 Arlington Million at about 1 ¼ miles over Arlington Park’s turf course to winner, Little Mike. It is the worst he has finished in his entire career, but came back to winning
ways in the Grade 3 Knickerbocker Stakes.
Out of Cox’s Ridge mare Emanating, Boisterous covered 1 1/8 miles over the Belmont Park’s inner turf in 1 minute and 50.26 seconds, as he cast See Tobe in second and Tune Me In, in third.
"He runs good over this course," said McGaughey's assistant, Buzz Tenney. "Jose got him in a good position early in the race, and I think that's the key with him. I think he likes to get in position early, be patient, and find a hole to finish through."
Bred in Kentucky by Cynthia Phipps, Boisterous broke swiftly and hugged the rail in fourth, while Stormy Lord took the early lead and went on to carve the opening quarter mile in 24.72 seconds, and turned in half-mile in 49.37 seconds.
Once after the three-quarters pole, that was downed in 1 minute and 13.98 seconds, Lezcano shifted to the outside as sixth, and ran down the leaders to win the race.
"In the middle of the turn when everybody moved, I still had a hold," Lezcano said. "I didn't get shuffled back; I let them go. I didn't want to move yet. When I swung out, he gave me the kick I expected him to give me. He finished very good."
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