James Riccio’s Grade 1 winner Willy Beamin, who did all but win the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park to keep alive a six-race winning streak on September 30, built on an already impressive resume on Saturday – but missed a trip to the winner’s circle – when he finished second to Called to Serve in Aqueduct’s Grade 3, $150,000 Discovery Handicap for 3-year-olds.
The Suave gelding, who made headlines last summer by taking the Albany Stakes and Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga within the span of 72 hours for his fifth and sixth consecutive victories, drew the outside post of six for the nine-furlong Discovery. Reunited with regular jockey Alan Garcia, he carried an impost of 121 pounds, spotting the other five sophomores four-to-six pounds, and was bet down to 3-4 favoritism by post time.
Out of the gate in stride, Willy Beamin made the front easily and loped on the front end in the two path through moderate fractions of 24.63, 49.36 and 1:13.29 – tracked but facing with no direct confrontation until the stretch.
In the lane, Called to Serve – a close-up third behind Willy Beaming in the Oklahoma Derby – launched a four-wide rally from fifth and, just before the furlong marker, drove past him before kicking away to a 4 3/4 length victory. Despite being passed, Willy Beamin hung tough to the wire to keep a head in front of Stephanoatsee, who finished just a nose ahead Adirondack King. The winner’s final time for the 1 1/8 miles over a fast track was 1:49.77.
Claimed for $25,000 by trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. on behalf of Riccio out of a winning effort at Aqueduct on March 23, Willy Beamin went on to win his next five starts, including the Mike Lee and Albany Stakes to bookend the Big Apple Triple, and the Grade 1 King’s Bishop – where for a second time this year he paired up victories on short rest while cutting back from a route to a sprint. Willy Beamin now adds his runner-up finish in the Discovery to his second last out in the Oklahoma Derby. His record now stands at 7-2-0 from 13 races with $719,545 in earnings.
Willy Beamin will be making another foray into the work of quick turnarounds and turn-backs this week: he is entered back in Aqueduct’s 6-furlong Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap on Thanksgiving Day. Entries.
A gelded son of Suave, Willy Beamin was bred by Patricia Staskowski Purdy and foaled at Ivy League Farm in Ithaca. His dam Big Tease, a New York-bred stakes winner and earner of $197,308 by late New York sire Gold Token, has produced two winners from two foals to start. Purdy purchased the mare for $6,000 at the 2008 Keeneland January sale.
Willy Beamin first changed hands as a short yearling at Keeneland in January 2010, when he was purchased by Dr. John Little for $3,000. Anthony J. Bonomo’s Brooklyn Boyz Stables bought him later in the year at the Fasig-Tipton October Kentucky sale for $16,000. Willy Beamin began his career for Mary Ellen Bonomo’s MeB Racing Stables LLC and trainer Dominic Schettino before being claimed by Riccio and Dutrow.
Big Tease currently has a 2-year-old filly by Sharp Humor named Humorus Dilemma, who has not started, and a filly born this April by Afleet Express. She was bred this past spring to New York sire Congaree.
