Sir Winston Turns in First Breeze of the Year
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Sir Winston at Belmont Park
Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Sir Winston recorded his first official work of 2020 with a five-furlong move in 1:02.86 Jan. 16 on the Belmont Park training track.
Trained by Mark Casse for owner/breeder Tracy Farmer, the 4-year-old Awesome Again colt worked under exercise rider Amy Mullen and recorded splits of :26.00 and :38.60 while tracking a stablemate.
"He did it well," said Jamie Begg, who oversees Casse's New York division. "He had a good run and gallop out. It was a nice, progressive work. It wasn't crazy fast, but he did it the right way."
After winning the Test of the Champion, Sir Winston was a disappointing 12th in the Dec. 28 Woodchopper Stakes on a yielding turf course at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Begg said the yielding turf was a contributing factor and is confident the colt could still handle the turf because of his ability on both dirt and all-weather surfaces. At 2, he won the Display Stakes on the Tapeta track at Woodbine.
"I would cross that race out," Begg said of the Woodchopper. "The more distance the better for him, and that race was only a flat mile, so he was just starting to get going then. I think on a harder turf he may have handled it better. The way he closes, he can run on the grass. He's won on Polytrack, and usually if you can take to dirt and synthetic, you can handle the grass."
Sir Winston is out of the Afleet Alex broodmare La Gran Bailadora, who was a graded stakes winner on the all-weather surface.
Sir Winston is targeting the Jan. 25 Jazil Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack as his season debut, with the $12 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1) in mind.
Begg said there is a possibility Sir Winston will compete in the graded stakes program for dirt marathoners.
"I think this race should give us a good idea," Begg said.
Begg also said Debby Oxley's recent maiden winner Love of My Heart will likely breeze Saturday in preparation for the Jan. 26 Ruthless Stakes going seven furlongs for sophomore fillies at Aqueduct.