Star Devine Much The Best in Autumn Days Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Star Devine wins the Autumn Days Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Larry Goichman's Star Devine scored her second career stakes triumph with an impressive victory for trainer Jorge Abreu in the $150,000 Autumn Days for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up sprinting six furlongs over Aqueduct Racetrack's outer turf course Nov. 27.
The 4-year-old Fastnet Rock filly added to a victory in last year's Galway at Saratoga Race Course, where she closed to earn a head victory over Illegal Smile . Star Devine showed different tactics in the Autumn Days and tracked close to the pace under Jose Ortiz, drawing away in the stretch for a 1 1/4-length victory.
Star Devine broke well from post 7 in the eight-horse field, ducking down towards the three-path to stalk Athwaaq , who went the opening quarter-mile in :23.05 over the good footing. Star Devine put her nose in front as the field rounded the turn, with Mail Order swinging four-wide and advancing toward the pacesetters. Change of Control and Lady Edith began their bids from the middle and back of the pack, respectively, after a half-mile in :46.83.
Star Devine was alone on the lead as the field straightened for the drive to the wire but came under threat from Lady Edith and Change of Control as those two advanced down the center of the course. Star Devine had enough left to hold onto the victory in a time of 1:11.78.
"Today, it looks like the speed has been holding up. Jose knows her from before when he rode her at Kentucky Downs," Abreu said. "I told him to warm her up pretty well and keep her forwardly placed just because of how the track has been playing today."
Bred in Ireland by Rockhart Trading, Star Devine was purchased for $258,109 at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. She returned $8.40 to win.
Change of Control was second by one length over Lady Edith, who fended off stablemate Honey Pants by three-quarters of a length for third. Athwaaq, Gogo Shoes , Hit the Woah , and Mail Order completed the order of finish.
Longshot Eloquist by a Nose in Discovery Stakes
Cash is King and LC Racing's Eloquist displayed determination when turning back three-time New York-bred stakes winner Barese to notch his third consecutive score and first at stakes level in the 78th running of the $150,000 Discovery at Aqueduct.
Eloquist, by Nyquist , entered the nine-furlong race for 3-year-olds off consecutive wins at the optional-claiming level going a mile and 70 yards. After two unsuccessful attempts in stakes, Eloquist went wire to wire and held on by a nose over a game Barese.
Eloquist (inside) wins the Discovery Stakes Aqueduct
Eloquist, under Paco Lopez, led, with Barese to his inside in second, through an opening quarter-mile in :24.07 over the muddy and sealed main track. Eloquist and Barese, ridden by Manny Franco, remained a close 1-2 through a half-mile in :48.49, with Saint Tapit dropping out of contention nearing the far turn.
By the quarter pole, both horses were under an all-out drive with very little between them, distancing themselves from the rest of the field. The pacesetters reached the finish line in tandem, with the nose victory going to Eloquist, who paid $33.80 after 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.33.
Trainer Butch Reid Jr. was "definitely nervous" regarding the photo finish.
"It looked like we were beat, but he got the nod right and we were due to get lucky maybe," Reid said.
The top pair finished five lengths ahead of third-place Naval Aviator . Completing the order of finish were Winit , Affable Monarch , Saint Tapit, and Be Better .
Eloquist, the longest shot in the field, banked $82,500, boosting his lifetime earnings to $243,010. His record stands at 5-0-0 in 12 starts.
Reid gelded Eloquist over the summer, which he said has made all the difference.
Bred in Kentucky by Idlewood Farm and Indian Creek, Eloquist is out of the unraced Tapit mare Our Gal El and was bought for $70,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale in 2020.
Video: Autumn Days S. (BT)