NYRA/Joe Labozzetta
Blue Bison Stable’s Loki’s Vengeance, a 4-year-old son of New York sire Frost Giant (Keane Stud), slipped up the rail and collared the early pacesetters to collect a second career stakes victory in Sunday’s six-furlong $100,000 Affirmed Success for New York-breds at Belmont Park.
Out of the gate sharply from post three, Loki’s Vengeance, a relative longshot at 11-1, immediately took back into fifth position, content to let the heavy hitting take place four lengths ahead. Up front, Broman homebred I’m Stoked led through testing early fractions of 22.29 and 45.16, prompted by odds-on favorite Captain Serious and Weekend Hideaway in the three-path.
After a rail trip through the far turn, Loki’s Vengeance angled out slightly in upper stretch to begin his bid, but moved right back inside at the three-sixteenths marker to take advantage of a gap at the fence. With an energetic closing kick, the dark bay colt passed the duelers just inside the eighth pole and drew off to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:09.80.
Multiple stakes winner Empire Dreams, who got off slowly and chased in sixth, came flying late to finish second, three-quarters of a length ahead of early trailer John’s Island, who got up for the show. Curious Cal, I’m Stoked and Weekend Hideaway completed the order of finish. Between the Lines was scratched. [VIDEO]
Winning rider Angel Cruz said, “He broke fast, but I took a hold of him and sat behind the horses. I had the best trip in the race and went through on the rail. He did it by himself. The trainer brought him ready; he did it by himself and kept going. My horse has speed, but the instruction was to wait and see [how the pace unfolded]. I sat back, and when I asked him, I had horse.”
Lorena Andersen, assistant to recuperating trainer Mike Hushion, felt the race dynamics really played into the colt’s hands. “He’s been training really well up to the race, but the whole race up front really helped him out. They kind of put pressure on each other up front and he was there to pick up the pieces.” She added, “I didn’t know if going up along the rail was going to be a good idea, but he handled it great. I’m very proud of him.”
NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Winner of the Times Square division of the New York Stallion Stakes as a sophomore, Loki’s Vengeance boosted his career record to 4-4-0 from 12 lifetime starts with the victory and increased his earnings to $253,709.
Bred by Andrew Cohen, whose Sunrise Stables stands Frost Giant, and foaled at Vinery New York in Hudson (now Rockridge Stud), Loki’s Vengeance is the first foal out of Subtle Sweetness (During) who was bred in New York by Thomas-Narlinger, LLC and Dennis Repp and won two of three lifetime starts.
All four of Subtle Sweetness’ foals are by Frost Giant: a 3-year-old colt named How Frosty It Is, who was unplaced in his debut this year, a 2-year-old colt, a yearling filly and filly foaled on April 24, 2015. Blue Bison Stable purchased Loki’s Vengeance for $35,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale in 2012.
