Falconet Defeats Kathleen O. in Top Flight
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Falconet and Jose Lezcano win the Top Flight Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Returning to Aqueduct Racetrack for the third time in just as many starts this year, Falconet came home victorious April 2 over late-running Kathleen O. in the $100,000 Top Flight Stakes.
After breaking smoothly from the gate, the Todd Pletcher trainee eased over to the rail on the dirt track rated fast behind Mommasgottarun , who set the pace in front to put away a quarter and half-mile in :23.88 and :48.79 with Kathleen O. trailing in the back after a slow start. Mommasgottarun kept the lead through a six-furlong time of 1:38.49, but then fell back as Timeless Journey moved up to contest for the lead at the quarter pole, with Falconet joining her and Kathleen O. making a desperate attempt from the back. Falconet put away Timeless Journey past the sixteenth pole under Jose Lezcano and kept Kathleen O. at bay, finishing up 2 1/4 lengths in front and in a final time of 1:51.42 for the 1 1/8 mile event.
With her late rally, Kathleen O. was able to make up enough ground to steal second from third-place finisher Timeless Journey.
Campaigned in partnership by China Horse Club and breeder WinStar Farm, Falconet ($9.00) improved her record to 4-4-0 from nine starts and increased her earnings to $392,340.
The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Uncle Mo is the first foal to race out of the grade 1-winning Summer Bird mare Birdatthewire , whose last reported foal is an unraced 2-year-old Into Mischief colt named Grand Rapids.