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By Sarah Mace
Pat On the Back (Congrats) rallied at the fence to score a nose victory over 2-1 favorite Macho Miah in the $120,950 Aspirant Stakes for New York-bred juveniles at Finger Lakes Saturday. Pat On the Back’s pilot Dylan Davis had a terrific day at the Farmington oval, also piloting Ribbonite, who is trained and co-owned by his father Robbie, to a romping score in the Lady Finger Stakes earlier on the card.
Trained by Ken McPeek for Harold Lerner LLC, AWC Stables, Scott K. Akman and Nehoc Stables, Pat On the Back had raced on the pace to break his maiden second out at Saratoga on August 29. On Saturday, he was outrun early, racing off the rail in seventh as Freud’s Friend, who caught a flyer at the break, led the way through a grueling quarter mile in 22.14 and half in 45.34.
Patiently handled along the backstretch and advancing through the turn, Pat On the Back took full advantage as the vanguard fanned toward the grandstand side at the head of the stretch. The chestnut colt gained fourth as he launched his bid at the fence, while Macho Miah, closing from third, gathered steam on the outside.
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Both contenders charged for the wire several paths apart. With a final surge under a vigorous hand ride, Pat On the Back got a nose in front of Macho Miah to win the photo. The final time for the six furlongs was 1:11.43. Fourth choice in the betting at odds of 5-1, Pat On the Back paid $12.20 to win.
Finishing a length back in third was Ethan Hunt, just a head to the good of Eddie’s Gift, who completed the superfecta. Finishing next in order were: Freud’s Friend, Silver Mission, Our Twist of Fate, Ursula’s Fury and Expediter. [VIDEO]
Bred by Sugar Maple Farm, Pat On the Back is out of the unplaced Kentucky-bred Awesome Again mare Accomplished. Purchased by Dan Haydon at the 2004 Keeneland November sale for $40,000, she has produced eight winners from eight foals to start. Her filly by Performing Magic named Sarah Accomplished won the 2008 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes series.
Pat On the Back is a graduate of the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale, where Ken McPeek collared him for $70,000. From his pair of victories in three starts, the colt has earned $120,020
