Drawing into the main body of Aqueduct’s over-subscribed $80,000 If Winter Comes overnight stakes on Saturday as an Also Eligible, Michael Marceda’s homebred Abilio followed Seal Cove (also an AE) across the line to complete the exacta at longshot odds and secure his second career stakes placing.
Making his second start for trainer Tom Albertrani after moving from the Linda Rice barn, Abilio was posted on the outside to go 1 1/16 miles over Aqueduct’s firm turf. Junior Alvarado, who piloted the 5-year-old gelded son of Pioneering to a turf allowance victory last November at Aqueduct, was at the helm. Largely passed over by bettors in the field of nine, which included six stakes winners, Abilio sent off as the second-longest shot on the board at odds of 29-1.
Owner of abundant early speed, Abilio wasted little time before striking the lead from his outside post, dashing to the front and challenging his rivals to catch him if they could. Setting splits of 23.97 and 49.19, the bay did not face a direct challenge until Tune Me In ranged up in the far turn.
Cornering neatly, Abilio once again surged ahead in upper stretch. Facing considerable pressure in the late stages from four runners close behind, he did not, however, yield the lead until Seal Cove came through an opening on the inside and kicked away to capture the victory by one length. After one mile in 1:37.59, the winner stopped the clock at 1:43.47.
Having passed through his state-bred conditions on the NYRA circuit as a sophomore in 2010, Abilio secured his first open company allowance victory by open lengths going a mile on turf at Aqueduct in November 2011. Returning to the races after the winter off, Abilio made it two in a row with a second-level open turf allowance win at Aqueduct in April going 1 1/16 miles. Prior to the If Winter Comes, Abilio finished a close third in the Sussex at Delaware Park on July 21. In 19 career starts, the gelding has compiled a record of 5-1-4 with $209,562 in earnings.
Foaled at Ann Morgan and Tim Little’s Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, Abilio is the first surviving foal, first stakes performer and one of only two starters out of Minni Sangue, a Florida-bred six-time winner (including four turf scores) by Slew Sangue ($153,397). Currently she has a 3-year-old unraced filly by Disco Rico (Spa Girl) and a yearling colt by Tale of the Cat. She was bred to Cowboy Call in the spring.
