Ackeret Lands First Stakes Win in Winkfield
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Ackeret stalked a tepid pace en route to his first career stakes win in the $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes for 3-year-olds March 8 at a muddy Aqueduct Racetrack.
Breaking alertly and content to sit in fifth position under jockey Jose Ortiz, Ackeret stalked a field that was off and running through moderate early fractions of :23.07 for the opening quarter and :46.66 for the half-mile set by dueling front-runners Regal Minister, Lord Commander, and Joe Franklin.
Turning for home, Ackeret traveled three wide, was angled to the rail in the upper stretch, and edged away from 3-5 favorite and runner-up Majestic Affair to secure a 2 1/4-length victory at 6-1 odds.
"The plan was to stalk (the pace), because there was a lot of speed," Ortiz said. "At the three-eighths pole, I decided to go inside and take a shot. The rail was open and I had a lot of horse, so I went through. He may be able to go farther, but I liked him sprinting today. He was very game."
Ackeret completed the six furlongs in 1:11.13 and returned $14.60 for the win. Making only his fifth career start for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, he increased his career earnings to $130,000 for David Wilkenfeld's Pick Six Racing and Silver Streak Stables.
The winner, a Florida-bred from the first crop of Mach Ride, has a 3-0-0 career line from five starts and came in off a distant fourth-place finish in the mile and 70-yard Jerome (gr. III) Jan. 3 at Aqueduct. The cutback in distance unlocked the breakthrough stakes win.
"Professional, excellent, unbelievable performance," said David Panzman, managing partner of Silver Streak Stables. "The plan from here is to go to the Bay Shore (gr. III) (April 4), but we're just enjoying today."
Pick Six Stable secured Ackeret for $53,000 from consignor Paul Sharp's agency at the 2014 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. June sale of 2-year-olds.
Rustlewood Farm bred Ackeret from the winning Touch Gold mare Lady Zieg, a half sister to three stakes winners, including grade III winner Classic Campaign. Second dam Crystal Symphony also is a grade III winner.
Possessed held on for third by head, followed by Joe Franklin, Lord Commander, and Regal Minister to complete the order of finish.