Albie First Winner for Freshman Sire Alpha

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NYRA/Coglianese Photo

By Mary LaRue (Courtesy Bloodhorse.com)

In his debut effort, Albie took a $62,000 maiden special weight race restricted to New York-bred 2-year-olds at Belmont Park Sept. 23 to become the first winner for freshman sire Alpha.

Off at odds of 12-1, the Michael Dilger trainee settled into second with jockey John Velazquez behind Scotty Brown, and the pair maintained that position through the turn for home. In the straight of the stretch, Albie came on even terms with the leader, who briefly put up a fight.

Able to shake clear, Albie then outran even-money favorite Graded On a Curve and Southern Brigade, who closed late, to win the 1 1/16-mile turf contest by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:44.01.

The Pepi Weis homebred is out of the unraced Thunder Gulch mare Hopephilly, who has produced four other winners, including the stakes-placed Sugar Trade.

Alpha, a son of Bernardini , was campaigned by Godolphin Racing and won the 2012 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and Travers Stakes (G1) back-to-back as a 3-year-old. In 2013, he returned to take the Woodward Stakes (G1). As a 2-year-old, he placed second in the Champagne Stakes (G1) one race after winning his debut by six lengths. He retired with a record of 6-2-1 in 22 starts, with earnings of $1,815,667.

Standing at Sequel Stallions New York, Alpha’s 2018 fee was $5,000.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/race-2.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/09/23/first-winner-alpha/