Photo: Jim McCue

It seemed like only a matter of time before multiple graded stakes performer Yawanna Twist would end up in the winner’s circle after a big race, and the moment came on President’s Day at Laurel Park, when the 5-year-old son of Yonaguska owned and bred by Steel Your Face Stables captured the $200,000, Grade 2 General George Handicap as 9-5 favorite.

Making his 5-year-old debut in the 7-furlong General George, Yawanna Twist was last seen returning after a seven-month layoff to score a visually impressive six-plus length allowance victory at Aqueduct on New Year’s Eve. After four regular intervening works, including two bullets, trainer Rick Dutrow blew him out three furlongs on Saturday (3 furlongs in 35.38 seconds).

On the board three times in prior graded tries – third in the 2011 Grade 1 Carter H. and second in the 2010 Grade 3 Illinois Derby and 2010 Grade 3 Gotham S. – not to mention his close-up fourth place finish in the 2010 Grade 1 Preakness S., Yawanna Twist had the strong support of backers at post time to the tune of 9-5 odds. This, even in the face of accomplished rivals like uncoupled stablemate This Ones for Phil, a five-time stakes winner wheeling back on two days rest, Grade 1 Wood Memorial winner Toby’s Corner and the hard hitting New York-based Caixa Eletronica. Regular rider Mike Luzzi made the trip to Laurel to ride.

After four horses broke sharply including Yawanna Twist, This Ones for Phil separated himself from the rest to take the field through a first quarter in 23.07 and half in 45.57 under Ramon Dominguez. A length behind and three abreast, Yawanna Twist had the rail, Caixa Eletronica raced in between horses and Fordangshore ran on the outside. Toby’s Corner loomed a close-up fourth.

After three quarters in 1:09.77, Yawanna Twist moved up at the rail to challenge for the lead. He took over from stablemate This Ones for Phil just shy of the final sixteenth and edged away to get the win by one-half length. Toby’s Corner, making his first start since the Wood, closed into third another half-length back. The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:22.38.

Jockey Mike Luzzi said, “He’s a little racehorse and you can see his record. He tries every time but we got him great this year. I think he’s probably the best he’s ever been.” Luzzi was also full of praise for Dutrow. “He is a real horse trainer-old timer kind of style. To be in his barn is unbelievable. This horse blew out . . . I didn’t want to squeeze the lemons. He is such a good trainer. He knows all his horses, loves all his horses and he really likes this horse.” Formerly Maryland-based, Luzzi was winning the General George for the third time. Dutrow won the 2004 renewal with Well Fancied.

Yawanna Twist is now an impressive 5-3-1 from 11 career starts and upped his earnings on Monday to $482,467.

Bred by owners Jim Riccio, Jeffrey Bonner and Frank Argano of Steel Your Face Stables, and foaled at Hickory Hill Farm Thoroughbreds, LLC, Yawanna Twist is the first foal out of Twist and Pop, a Florida-bred by Oliver Twist. Twist and Pop was claimed by Steel Your Face Stables in March 2004 for $22,500 before going on to become a stakes-winner for the Dutrow barn. She earned $233,910 in four campaigns.

Twist and Pop’s other winning foal, three-year-old Pop Pop’s Smyle by Whywhywhy – also bred and owned by Steel Your Face Stables – broke her maiden at second asking at Aqueduct on January 29. The mare has a 2-year-old filly by E Dubai, a yearling filly by Big Brown and was bred last year to Tale of the Cat.

The only time Yawanna Twist was offered at auction, he failed to meet his reserve when bid up to $70,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling sale.

Photo: Adam Coglianese

On President’s Day Camelia J. Casby’s 7-year-old homebred Law Enforcement, by New York’s leading sire Posse, scored his first stakes victory since back-to-back scores in 2009, taking the 34th running of Aqueduct’s $75,000 Hollie Hughes S. by 1 1/4 lengths after closing into a hot pace.

In his last start prior to the Hollie Hughes, Law Enforcement closed late into a runner-up finish behind Dr Disco in the Vodka Stakes at Aqueduct on December 4. Third choice in the wagering at post time for the 6-furlong Hollie Hughes at odds of 3-1, Law Enforcement was partnered with Alan Garcia for the sixth time for his 26th career start.

Five of the seven New York-breds in the Hollie Hughes field owned early speed, and as the race unfolded, the lead changed multiple times with unrelenting pressure on the front end. Head Heart Hoof was out of the gate quickest from his outside post, but the pair who went on with an early duel were Bug Juice and Freudian Dilemma. As the opening quarter went in 22.33, Law Enforcement loped along comfortably in last, as much a dozen lengths off the lead.

In the far turn, the second flight – Dr Disco and Head Heart Hoof – caught and circled the early leaders and, after a half-mile run in 45.72, Dr Disco briefly grabbed the lead before Head Heart Hoof took over, while Law Enforcement began to make up ground from the rear to come within five lengths of the leaders.

After getting closer to striking range in mid stretch, Law Enforcement angled out, found his best stride and, in the final sixteenth, passed Head Heart Hoof before edging away to a 1 1/4-length victory, while Head Heart Hoof managed to keep a head in front of Be Bullish, who was closing at the rail, to preserve the place. The final time for the six furlongs was a snappy 1:10.95. Dr Disco, Ground Force, Freudian Dilemma and Bug Juice completed the order of finish.

After the race jockey Alan Garcia said, “My horse was calm and relaxed. I had plenty of confidence because I saw there was a lot of speed in the race, so I wanted to be patient and save some ground. When it came time to move, my horse responded.”

Saul Castellanos, assistant to Law Enforcement’s trainer Mark Hennig, said, “We were hoping for a lot of speed, and the jockey did a great job.” He added that they will plan Law Enforcement’s next start after they “see how everything looks back at the barn.”

Law Enforcement now has four stakes victories to his credit: the 2007 renewal of the Aspirant S. at Finger Lakes (with Alan Garcia aboard then also), and back-to-back scores in 2009 in Belmont’s Promonroe and Saratoga’s John Morrissey. He has finished second in five additional state-bred stakes. The Hollie Hughes victory improved his record to 6-8-1 from 26 starts and increased his earnings to $449,888.

A bay horse, bred by Casby and foaled at Myrwood Farm, Law Enforcement is out of the unraced Lord at War (ARG) mare Zambezi Belle, who has produced three other winners from three foals to start. Law Enforcement’s victory gives leading New York sire Posse (Vinery New York at Sugar Maple) his first stakes winner of 2012.

Photo: Adam Coglianese

One of four 3-year-old state-bred fillies stretching out for the first time in Aqueduct’s Sunday co-feature, the $75,000 Windswept Wings Stakes, Broman homebred Beautiful But Blue met the challenge with ease, leading the way through moderate fractions on her way to a two-length victory in the one mile and 70 yard contest.

A daughter of El Corredor trained by Tom Bush, Beautiful But Blue was looking for her third straight victory in state-bred competition on Sunday. A large dark bay filly with a distinctive blaze, Beautiful But Blue broke her maiden in her fourth career start on the Aqueduct main track on November 23. Next out on December 28 she scored an open-length tally in an allowance race on the inner oval. Both victories came at six furlongs from a stalking position over off going with Junior Alvarado aboard. Partnered again with Alvarado on Sunday and drawn at the rail, Beautiful But Blue was bet down to third choice in the wagering at odds of 9-2.

On paper Beautiful But Blue’s main rival in the eight-filly field would be 6-5 favorite Peggy Jane, whose only defeat in three starts came at the hands of the mighty Agave Kiss, to whom she finished a solid second in their mutual debuts. Campaigned by Barbara Banke’s Grace Stables and trained by Steve Asmussen, Peggy Jane owned the best last-out Beyer Speed Figure of the eight (78) and, like Beautiful But Blue, was looking to parlay two six-furlong victories into a route win. She had post three under Ramon Dominguez.

Beautiful But Blue broke well and set the pace in hand along the inside, tracked by Peggy Jane through a moderate half in 49.57. The two continued one-two around the track about a length apart. In upper stretch, Beautiful But Blue opened up on her rival and drove on to the wire, winning in the end by two lengths after Peggy Jane closed ground. The final time was a comfortable 1:45.42. Peggy Jane crossed the wire second, 2 1/4 lengths clear of longshot Mischief Maker.

Alvarado said, “I had a lot of horse, and I had to take her back all the way or go the lead. I had ridden the filly before and knew she had enough speed to get out real quick. I went to the lead and tried to relax her, and she did everything else by herself. She’s a big filly, and when I rode her [in six-furlong races] after she would keep bounding around the turn, so I knew she’d be good going a longer distance.”

Jose Calderon, assistant to trainer Tom Bush, said that Beautiful But Blue has been developing from start to start. “After each race, she’s been a totally different filly,” Calderon said. “She’s growing into herself, and mentally she’s learning. I said, ‘If she takes the lead, just go ahead.’ We didn’t want her to get rank and uncomfortable.”

Beautiful But Blue, who is now 3-0-0 from six starts ($106,000), is the third and last reported foal out of the multiple stakes-winning Dixie Brass mare Beautiful America campaigned by the Bromans ($523,927). Both of her prior foals are winners, 6-year-old Scorch the Torch by Smoke Glacken ($150,000) and 5-year-old Backcountry Boy by Smarty Jones ($61,022).

Photo: Adam Coglianese

WellSpring Stables homebred Stormy’s Majesty chalked up a fourth career stakes victory at Aqueduct on Sunday, going to the front in the $75,000 Mr. G.J.G. Stakes under C. C. Lopez and never looking back, ultimately prevailing by a half-length over a wide-running, late-closing Inherit the Gold.

Though the field was reduced to six after trainer Graham Motion scratched Icabad Crane due to an inflamed left foreleg, the Mr. G.J.G. shaped up as a competitive mile and 70 yard contest for older New York-breds, headlined by a pair of Grade 3 winners.

Stormy’s Majesty (Stormy Atlantic), winner of the 2010 renewal of the Grade 3 Discovery H., had not visited the winner’s circle since taking the Noble Nashua at Aqueduct last April. Off-the board last out in the Alex M. Robb on New Year’s Eve following a poor break and a grabbed quarter, he was fourth choice in the wagering for the Mr. G.J.G.at odds of 5-1. Trainer Dominic Galluscio tapped C.C. Lopez for the first time to ride the 5-year-old.

Favored to win the Mr. G.J.G.at odds of 4-5 was last year’s Grade 3 Excelsior hero, 6-year-old Inherit the Gold (Gold Token). Winner last out of the 1/16-mile Haynesfield Stakes by 6 1/4 lengths with an explosive late run for trainer Jim Hooper in a final time of 1:43.05 for a 104 Beyer, the popular grey gelding was reunited for the first time in six starts with jockey Eddie Castro, back after injury.

Following the break, Stormy’s Majesty assumed the lead within the first dozen strides or so, and continued on the front end, pressed by second choice Groomedforvictory (5-2), who was third by a neck in the Alex Robb, and longshot Robb winner Spa City Fever. The remaining three raced head-to-head three lengths from the front, with Inherit the Gold running three wide for the first part of the race from his outside post.

Through the far turn Stormy’s Majesty opened up two lengths on his pursuers, while Inherit the Gold moved up four wide and gained second around the three-eighths pole. Stormy’s Majesty kept on with good energy for the final furlong to get the victory by 1/2 length as Inherit the closed well, but fell short.

Stormy’s Majesty stopped the clock after 1 mile and 70 yards at 1:42.92 after recording fractions of 23.84, 47.45, and 1:11.60. Star of New York (5-1), coming back on short rest for trainer Rick Dutrow after winning an open company first-level allowance on Wednesday, rallied for third, and Uncle T Seven, Spa City Fever and Groomedforvictory completed the order of finish.

Winning jockey C.C. Lopez said, “Dominic had expressed that he might choke up a little if you grabbed him too much. To my heart’s delight, he broke and I was able to take a long hold. When he got to the lead going to the elbow, I was able to take that long hold and let him breathe. And from there, I just had to keep him interested.” Lopez added, “He ran his eyeballs out and I was glad I was able to hold off the onslaught of Inherit the Gold. The horse ran really, really well.”

Dominic Galluscio alluded to Stormy’s Majesty’s trouble in the Robb: “Last time he ran he stumbled badly at the start and lost all chance. He likes to run free. Today we got out well. The gray horse [Inherit the Gold] was coming at us, but we held him off.  Inherit the Gold is a good horse, but we had a tactical pace advantage.” Galluscio said that he would probably point Stormy’s Majesty to the 1 1/16-mile Kings Point to be run on March 3.

Grade 3 winner Stormy’s Majesty has now won four stakes races in all, at least one in each of the last three years, and has finished second in three more, including the Grade 3 Queen’s County. His career record now stands at 7-3-0 from fifteen starts, with $336,649 in earnings.

Bred by Majesty Stud partners Robert Vukovich, who now operates WellSpring Stables, and the late Digby Barrios, Stormy’s Majesty is the first foal from Raffie’s Dream, a stakes-placed daughter of New York stallion Raffie’s Majesty who stands at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, where Stormy’s Majesty was foaled. Stormy’s Majesty’s half-brother, four-year-old Dream Drop Kid (Lemon Drop Kid), is a multiple winner ($72,611) and Raffie’s Dream has also produced two full siblings to Stormy’s Majesty, a yearling filly and a 2012 filly born on January 28.

Photo: Adam Coglianese

Kidwells Petite Stable’s Pretension, by top-three New York sire Bluegrass Cat, survived a late charge by dual stakes-winner Swag Daddy to garner his first stakes victory in Aqueduct’s featured $75,000 Sweet Envoy Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds on Saturday.

Never worse than second in four starts prior to the Sweet Envoy, Pretension got nailed at the wire in the Damon Runyon on December 4 by Swag Daddy (Scat Daddy), who made a last-to-first run to get the victory. The two went their separate ways in their subsequent starts, Pretension finishing second in an open first-level allowance race at Laurel Park on January 2 for trainer Christopher Grove (1 1/16-miles), and Swag Daddy collecting his second straight stakes victory in the Restoration S. at Aqueduct on New Year’s Eve (1 mile 70 yards) for trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr.

Second choice at post time under Javier Santiago at odds of 7-2, Pretension broke from post seven of eight, while favored Scat Daddy (3-5) had the rail with Junior Alvarado in the irons.

After a sharp break by Swag Daddy, who then dropped back, and a brief bid by Sportswriter, second-time starter Summer Breezing went on with it, showing the way for the first three-quarters of a mile (1:14.31) after early fractions of 23.84 and 48.67. Pretension tracked in third never more than three lengths from the front, while Swag Daddy rated mid-pack in fifth early on.

As the field turned for home Sportswriter grabbed the lead from Summer Breezing, but was overhauled by Pretension just shy of the eighth pole. In the final furlong, Swag Daddy launched a strong surge and passed all but Pretension, but ended up short when Pretension hit the wire and stopped the clock at 1:43.87 with a 1 1/4-length advantage. Sportswriter finished 1/2 length further back in third. [VIDEO]

Winning trainer Christopher Grove said, “I couldn’t have been happier with [Pretension]. It was exactly what Javier and I talked about: just sit right off them. I actually thought he might show a little more speed, but it was a good ride.”

Jockey Javier Santiago concurred about the game plan: “The trainer told me to stay close, because my horse has speed. I sat a little bit behind the speed and when I was ready, I moved my horse. The last eighth I was waiting for the number one [Swag Daddy], they said the horse would finish strong, but my horse kept running and I knew I had the winner.”

Grove added, “The [Grade 3, $400,000] Gotham [on March 3] is on the calendar, even though it’s in three weeks. We’ll see how he comes out of it. He does like the track. We’re trying to get some graded money, as well, and everybody will. At this point, you have to tackle the tough ones.”

Bred by a partnership of Sequel Thoroughbreds, LLC and A. Lakin and Sons and foaled at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson, Pretension is the first foal out of the placed Street Cry (IRE) mare Main Streetin’, purchased in foal by Becky Thomas for $60,000 at the 2008 Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale. Pretension’s owners purchased him from Sequel Bloodstock (agent) for $75,000 at the 2011 OBS Select Two-Year-Old sale. In five starts Pretension has now compiled a record of 2-3-0 with $86,620 in earnings.

Main Streetin’ currently has a 2-year-old filly by Freud (Bamboo Stick) and a yearling colt by the same sire. She was bred last year to Hard Spun. Pretension’s sire, Bluegrass Cat, A Vinery/WinStar Venture, stands at Vinery New York at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag.

Photo: Adam Coglianese

Winner of her last start, the Cupid’s Way S. at Belmont on May 4, 2011, Big Brownie returned to the races on Friday afternoon after eight months on the bench just the way she left off – a winner – closing in the final furlong to capture Aqueduct’s $75,000 Holly Springs Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares.

A 6-year-old chestnut daughter of former New York sire Wheelaway, Big Brownie was seeking a third career stakes victory in the Holly Springs. Irad Ortiz, Jr. had the call for the first time for trainer Leah Gyarmati, who owns Big Brownie in partnership with Wide Rill Farm. Slightly favored in the betting (1.65-1) over stakes-winning speedster Saltamontes (1.75-1), Big Brownie went to post three of five, drawn just outside her main rival.

After the break, Saltamontes grabbed the lead and prevailed without a challenge before being joined in the far turn by the stalking Nicole’s Miss El. The two raced in tandem at the quarter pole, while Big Brownie, with Lady Gracenote to her inside, raced together two lengths back. The early fractions of the six-furlong contest went in 23.41 and 46.99.

Within the grounds of the final furlong Big Brownie began to close in earnest as did Lady Gracenote. As Big Brownie began to pass the leading pair to her inside, they both shifted out, closing down the passage for Lady Gracenote, who was forced to steady and change course. Big Brownie drew 1 1/4 lengths clear by the time she passed under the wire, while Lady Gracenote regrouped and closed well into second, a neck clear of Saltamontes, who nosed out Nicole’s Miss El for the show money. There was no change in the order of finish after a stewards’ inquiry and the final time for the six furlongs was 1:11.70.

Big Brownie adds her victory in the Holly Springs Stakes to a dominant score in the Staten Island Division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series at Aqueduct in November 2010, and a win in the Cupid’s Way in the Belmont slop in her last start prior to her layoff in May 2011. Having finished only once off the board in five starts last year, Big Brownie placed in three additional state-bred stakes at Aqueduct in 2011 (Leecoo, Broadway and Ruby Rubles). The Holly Springs win improves her career record to 5-6-3 from 19 starts and increases her earnings to $254,284.

Bred by Alain J. Falourd and foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Big Brownie is the first foal from eight-time winner Mythical Brownie, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Lord Avie, who raced 36 times in three seasons and earned $169,611. Mythical Brownie currently has a winning four-year-old filly Warrior Marie, by Desert Warrior, a 2-year-old filly by the same sire (Jerusalem Stone) and a newly-turned yearling colt by Utopia. Mythical Brownie was bred last year to Alphabet Soup. Big Brownie’s sire, Wheelaway, stood at McMahon’s from 2003 to 2009.

Photo: Coglianese Photos

New York-breds dominated the finish of Gulfstream’s Sunday turf feature, the $100,000 Sweetest Chant S. for 3-year-old fillies, as Dayatthespa and Wholelottashakin both closed from off the pace to complete an Empire-bred exacta. The Sweetest Chant gave Dayatthespa her first stakes victory and Wholelottashakin her first black type.

Chad Brown-trainee Dayatthespa (City Zip), last seen in finishing not much more than five lengths behind Stephanie’s Kitten in the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, broke from the outside post of eight for the one-mile Sweetest Chant as 7-5 favorite under Javier Castellano. Parting Glass Stable’s Wholelottashakin (Scat Daddy), also well backed at odds of 5-1 for trainer Tom Bush, drew post two with Alex Solis getting the repeat call. Both fillies were making their fourth career starts.

The Sweetest Chant delivered lots of pace from the get-go, as Ready Signal and Awesome Belle dueled for the first six panels, clocking quarters of 23.01, 47.05 and 1:10.85. Meanwhile Wholelottashakin cruised along comfortably just off the fence in fifth about seven lengths from the lead, and Dayatthespa, who usually runs closer up on the pace, ran in seventh position more than nine lengths back.

Both fillies moved together rounding the far turn, with Wholelottashakin advancing in the three-path and Dayatthespa fanned five wide for the stretch run. At the furlong marker the pair raced shoulder-to-shoulder, but Dayatthespa had the most momentum and kicked free impressively to a 1 3/4-length victory, stopping the clock at 1:34.43 for a new career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 86. Wholelottashakin finished 2 1/4 lengths clear of Frolic’s Revenge, who tracked the early frontrunners and threatened late.

Dayatthespa’s pilot Javier Castellano said, “I expected to be much closer to the pace, but she broke just a step slow today. Fortunately, they went much faster up front than I expected. She settled beautifully and when I asked her, she picked it up really quickly. I had no choice but to go around horses on the turn and to go a little wide.” He added, “I was really satisfied with how she ran today and I think she’s a really nice filly.” Trainer Chad Brown has not determined where he will spot Dayatthespa next but said, “She looks like she’s going to be best at a middle distance.”

A debut winner in state-bred company at Saratoga in early August, Dayatthespa, who is owned in partnership by Jerry and Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon and Bradley Thoroughbreds, finished a strong second next out in the Natalma S. at Woodbine in September. She appeared not to relish the give in the “good” Churchill turf course in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, but in the end was beaten only 5 1/2 lengths. Her record now stands at 2-1-0 from four starts with earnings of $124,892.

Bred by Castellare DiCracchiolo Stable, Cracchiolo and Goldsher, and foaled at Empire Stud in Hudson (now Vinery New York), Dayatthespa was a $50,000 Fasig-Tipton New York Preferred Yearling in 2010. Her dam, M’Lady Doc, an unplaced daughter of Doc’s Leader, has produced three winners from three starters, including New York-bred $126,140-earner Doc Can Do (Quiet American). M’Lady Doc’s most recent reported foal is a 2-year-old colt, The Big Deluxe (Silver Wagon).

Parting Glass Stable’s Wholelottashakin has improved in each of her four starts. After breaking her maiden at second asking on the Belmont turf in September, she finished a close-up sixth in the Ginger Brew at Gulfstream after a poor start. With a record of 1-2-0, she has earned $55,040.

Bred by Mia Gallo and foaled at Tom and Mia Gallo’s Blue Stone Farm in Cambridge, Wholelottashakin is the last reported foal and one of seven winning siblings out of stakes-placed New York-bred Carr Shaker, a daughter of Carr de Naskra ($72,405). Her offspring include Grade 3-winner Dewars Rocks ($314,861), and stakes-placed Northern Shaker and Woodford Rocks. Thomas J. Gallo III Sales Agency purchased the mare at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton December Mixed sale in Timonium for $10,000.

Photo: Adam Coglianese

Last year’s inner-oval superstar Inherit the Gold demonstrated at Aqueduct on Sunday that he’ll probably be making some more noise in the older male state-bred division in 2012, exploding from off the pace in the stretch to take the $75,000 Haynesfield Stakes by a resounding 6 1/4 lengths.

Coming off a fourth place finish in the Alex M. Robb on New Year’s Eve after being compromised by a slow pace, and partnered with Junior Alvarado a second straight time for the 1 1/16-mile Haynesfield, the 6-year-old grey gelding was the people’s second choice in the wagering at odds of 7-5.

After the break, post-time favorite and newly-turned 4-year-old Socialsaul went straight to the front, clocking opening fractions of 23.44 and 48.42 and running three-quarters in 1:12.05. Uncle T Seven stalked in a length behind in second, while Beautyinthepulpit ran another length back in third. Inherit the Gold raced reserved in fourth place.

Asked while being spun three wide in upper stretch, Inherit the Gold started pouring it on, gaining the lead around the furlong marker and rapidly opening up to a 6 1/4-length victory. Socialsaul held on gamely for second, keeping a half-length clear of a pressing Uncle T Seven for the show spot. Spa City Fever – compromised by a poor start – and Beautyinthepulpit completed the order of finish. After a mile in 1:36.79, the winner stopped the clock at 1:43.05 for the 1 1/16 miles after being geared down for the final sixteenth,.

Winning Jockey Junior Alvarado said, “Today, it was perfect. The speed went to the lead and I just waited and waited and waited, and when I asked him, he was a completely professional horse. He just took off right away and that was it.”

Jim Hooper, who trains the gelding for owners Susanne Hooper and Edmond and Mary Murray’s Glas-Tipp Stable said, “It was a fabulous performance. I knew he was good in his last two, but he was compromised by the pace and the trip. Today, things went his way. All he needs is a fair chance. If he gets a fair chance, he is going to be right there.” Hooper added, “He is an incredible horse. He’s got a lot of personality and a lot of good things about him besides being fast.”

Inherit the Gold, who has now won six of nine starts on the Aqueduct Inner track, compiled a five-race winning streak last winter/spring including victories in the Mr. International S. in January and Kings Point in March, and culminating in a triumph in the Grade 3 Excelsior in April. He also won a Stallion Stakes Series race last November and secured two open stakes placings in 2011: finishing third in the One Count at Belmont in May to eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Drosselmeyer, and second in the open Queen’s County in December. Inherit the Gold’s career record now stands at 9-4-3 from 21 starts including five stakes victories, and he has earned $412,685.

As to the future Hooper said he will give his charge a rest. Then, “I’d really like to have him revved up to defend the championship in the King’s Point [March 3] and maybe the Excelsior [Grade 3, March 17, Aqueduct]. But we will see what happens tomorrow. Every day is a new day.”

Bred by the Murrays and the Hoopers and foaled at the Hoopers’ Haven Oaks Farm, the son of late New York sire Gold Token is one of seven winners, but the first to earn black type, from eight foals to start out of prolific multiple-winner Melissa’s Sunshine. James Hooper purchased the daughter of Personal Flag for $3,000 at Jeff Minton’s Saratoga mixed sale in 2003.

Inherit the Gold’s most accomplished siblings are Homeside (Bukhar), who earned $153,705, and New York-bred Back Bay Lady by New York stallion A. P Jet ($86,256). The youngest of the brood, I’m a Personal Jet, is a winning four-year-old filly also by A. P Jet.

Hodges Photography / Alexander Barkoff

Enjoying his first winter in the Big Easy, Andrews T and S Racing’s Mr. Vegas secured his first stakes victory with a front-running 1 1/2-length score in the Grade 3, $100,00 Colonel E.R. Bradley H. at Fair Grounds on Saturday, meanwhile giving his sire Freud a fifth graded-stakes winner and 29th stakes winner.

Having finished on the edges in three previous forays into stakes competition in 2010 and 2011, Mr. Vegas was riding a two-race winning-streak – and a perfect two-for-two record at Fair Grounds – into the Bradley. Slightly overlooked in the wagering as third selection of six at odds of 5-1, the flashy five-year-old chestnut gelding, said by his trainer Richie Scherer to be “difficult to ride” and “hard to rate,” had Miguel Mena aboard for the second straight time.

Well before the field hit the first turn in the (approximately) 1 1/16-mile turf affair, Mr. Vegas had assumed command from his outside post and, while racing in the three- and four-paths throughout, led the field through comfortable fractions of 24.30, 49.41 and 1:13.84.

The drama was reserved for the final sixteenth. A closing Dubious Miss steadied slightly after Mr. Vegas drifted out despite a right-handed whip. After a review by the stewards that lasted nearly 10 minutes, there was no change in the order of finish. Mr. Vegas stopped the clock at 1:43.49.

When asked whether he expected to end up on the lead, Jockey Miguel Mena said, “Yeah, I did. He’s a very hard horse to ride. He’s a runner, you know? I was just glad he came back to me and made it easy.”

Both trainer and jockey addressed the dynamics of the stretch run. Mena said, “This horse kind of gets out a little bit. You can see it on the television, running sideways, getting out. I just did my best to keep him straight and I didn’t think I bothered the other horse.” Trainer Scherer said, “I saw it again and he did come out a touch, so I wasn’t sure if it was enough to change the outcome.”

Mr. Vegas has spent the majority of his career in the barns of Michael Hushion and Richie Scherer, depending on whether he was racing in New York or the Midwest. He is now a perfect three-for-three in New Orleans, with his Grade 3 Bradley victory capping second- and third-level allowance victories in November and December. Having raced exclusively on the turf, Mr. Vegas’ record now stands at 7-5-0 from 21 starts with $260,331 in earnings.

Bred by Berkshire Stud Mr. Vegas is the most successful of seven winners produced by Berkshire Stud homebred Lhotse, an unraced daughter of The Minstrel out of Grade 2-placed Bharal. Mr. Vegas was purchased by Paul J. Andrews as a yearling at the 2008 Saratoga New York-bred sale for $23,000.

Mr. Vegas’ sire Freud, New York’s leading stallion in 2008 and 2009, second in the state rankings in 2010 and 2011, and number one turf sire in the Empire State every year since 2007, stands for Sequel Stallions New York.

Photo: Adam Coglianese

Agave Kiss, one of twelve remaining Flying Zee horses in training, passed an essential class test with flying colors on Saturday. Making her stakes debut and first appearance outside state-bred company, she secured an effortless frontrunning victory in Aqueduct’s $75,000 Ruthless Stakes for 3-year-old fillies while boosting her career record to a perfect three-for-three.

A Rudy Rodriguez-trainee, Agave Kiss was making her third straight start at six furlongs in the Ruthless. With regular jockey Ryan Curatolo aboard, the chestnut daughter of Lion Heart was favored at odds of 4-5 in a strong field of seven.

Agave Kiss broke running from post two and secured the front spot, leading by two lengths under a hold through an opening quarter-mile in 22.62 and by more than three lengths after the half in 45.68. With no challenge of substance coming from the rest of the field, the Empire-bred opened up to a 3 1/4-length victory in 1:10.28 under a hand drive. [VIDEO]

Jockey Curatolo said after the victory, “I took hold at the beginning because I didn’t want her to go too fast. But, I didn’t take hold for long because she was so relaxed. I wanted to sit there for a bit because I know what she can do. I let her keep going the way she wanted: on an easy lead. When she really started to move, she did everything right. Today, she was still a little bit green, but next time she will be better. She’s really nice.”

Rodriguez, who has expressed virtually unbounded confidence in Agave Kiss from day one, said, “I thought she was that good. I just try to keep her happy and let her do her job. She’s a very classy horse.” He added, “We’ll point her for the Prioress. Hopefully, she’ll keep improving, and we’ll take it from there. She’s a special one.”

Agave Kiss burst on the scene with an impressive 6 1/4-length debut victory on Showcase Day last fall, going six furlongs in 1:09.79 for a Beyer Speed Figure of 90. Six weeks later she demolished a first-level state-bred allowance field, winning under wraps by 10 1/2-lengths, for which she was tabbed a “TDN Rising Star.” Agave Kiss is now a perfect three-for-three with $94,200 in earnings, and has led every step of the way in all three starts.

Bred by Nustar Breeding LLC, Agave Kiss is a daughter of stakes-winner Salty Romance (Salt Lake), purchased by the late Carl Lizza as a two-year-old in training for $320,000 at the 2003 OBS sale. Salty Romance went on to win the Delta Princess S. at two and run third in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel S. at three, earning $229,200.

Also the producer of multiple stakes-placed Luxury Appeal by Johannesburg ($70,960), Salty Romance topped the second phase of Flying Zee dispersal at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December mixed sale, purchased in foal to New York sire Cosmonaut by Blue Devil Racing Stable for $260,000.

Salty Romance’s 2010 filly by Lemon Drop Kid, named One Time Only, was the top-seller of the yearling portion of the Flying Zee dispersal at the Fasig-Tipton Fall yearling sale last October, purchased by Glen Hill Farm for $375,000.