Possessed, Take Issue Win NY Stallion Stakes

Daniel Hayden and Charlton Baker's Possessed held off the late run from Organic Gemini to take the $98,000 Times Square division of New York Stallion Stakes  April 26 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

 

Tracking the pace of Clockwork from the start through a half-mile in :46.16, Possessed put away that rival turning for home opening up a two-length lead at the top of the stretch, before prevailing by a length over the late moving Organic Gemini.

 

Possessed, who was ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.32 over the main track that was labeled fast.

 

It was the biggest win in the career of the 3-year-old colt, who was sent off the 6-5 favorite in the field of five.

 

Possessed, who is by Posse   out of the Mr. Greeley mare Ibetyouwishyouknew, broke his maiden in his fourth career start on Feb. 14 at Aqueduct, when he held off Organic Gemini by a nose that day.

 

After his maiden win, Possessed tried open company, finishing third in the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct March 8 before finishing second in an allowance race at Aqueduct April 10.

 

Possessed was bred in New York by Grapestock LLC, and now owns a record of 2-3-1 from seven starts with earnings of $134,950.

 

Second-choice Disco Partner got up to be third, while B. B.'s Remington and Clockwork completed the order of finish.

 

Possessed returned $4.70 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.10 to show. Organic Gemini paid $3.20 to place and $2.10 to show, while Disco Partner returned $2.10 to show.

 

In the filly division, Take Issue captured the $100,000 Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes  when she rallied from off the pace to prevail at 14-1 odds under jockey Junior Alvarado.

 

Racing in fifth early on in the seven-horse field, Take Issue split horses under Alvarado at the top of the stretch before completing the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:18.15.

 

It was a 1 1/4 lengths back to even-money favorite The Lewis Dinner, who raced wide throughout, while Dreamboat Annie lasted to be third over Freudie Anne and Majestic Jessica. Fenwick Halland Gethot Stayhot completed the order of finish. Kathy's Humor, Midnight Champagne, Saluda, and Omagoddonna were scratched.

 

Take Issue returned $31.60 to win, $9 to place and $4.20 to show. The Lewis Dinner paid $3.30 to place and $2.50 to show, while Dreamboat Annie returned $4 to show.

 

Owned by Toby Sheets and ZBS Thoroughbreds, Take Issue was winning her third straight start after dropping her debut last Sept. 10 at Belmont Park.

 

The 3-year-old filly becomes the first stakes winner for sire Sir Whimsey, who stands at Mill Creek Farm in New York. She out of the Officer mare Control Issue broke her maiden in her second start at Aqueduct on Jan. 30 before stepping up to win an allowance race at Aqueduct on Feb. 26.