NYRA/Adam Coglianese
DATTT Stable homebred Regal Minister gave his New York-based sire Posse (Rockridge Stud) his second progeny stakes winner of the day with a frontrunning open-length victory in the inaugural running of the $100,000 Notebook stakes at 6 furlongs for New York-bred juveniles. The Lewis Dinner, who wired the filly division of Sunday’s new New York-bred stakes races, put one in the win column for Posse earlier on the card.
Making just his second start on the heels of a determined debut sprint victory on October 6, Regal Minister got out of post two sharply at generous odds of 8-1 and outsprinted One Eyed Ray, who broke on the fly from the outside post, for the early lead.
Settling into a good rhythm with One Eyed Ray prompting at his flank, Regal Minister carved out early fractions of 23.15 and 47.64. A host of challengers lined up in the turn, but Regal Minister shook everybody off at the head of the stretch, and opened up all the way to the wire on his way to a dominant 3 3/4-length victory in a final time of 1:12.27.
Breakin the Fever, over-eager early and repeatedly checked inside to prevent clipping heels, switched out to the two path in the stretch to get up for second at longshot odds of 36-1, while Bullheaded Boy (7-2), who made a big five wide move on the turn, finished third. Completing the order of finish were Clockwork, odds on favorite Good Luck Gus, Tizquick, One Eyed Ray and Navy Blue. [VIDEO]
Jockey Manny Franco, who also piloted The Lewis Dinner to victory in the Key Cents, said, “My horse has some pace. He broke good and took the lead, and I just tried to keep him nice and easy. When I asked him, he went. I tried to settle him a little bit because he’s strong when he takes the bit. He relaxed pretty good.”
Mark Hennig, the chestnut colt’s conditioner, said, “He’s a neat kind of horse; he’s always trained well. He’s willing to go easy, but when a horse comes to him he’s competitive. He’s not a flashy horse in the morning, but he’s well meant.”
Hennig said that Regal Minister will pointed next to the six-furlong Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Stakes series for New York-sired New York-bred 2-year-olds at Aqueduct on December 28.
Regal Minister, foaled at Gallagher’s Stud in Ghent, is the first foal out of Dattts Regal, an unraced daughter of Mr. Greeley, who currently has a yearling colt by Freud and a weanling full sister to Regal Minister. She was bred to Warrior’s Reward this year.
