Competitive Edge Provides Class in Stephens
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Competitive Edge puts his undefeated record on the line in the $500,000 Woody Stephens Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park June 6.
Fresh off of a powerful score in the Pat Day Mile (gr. III) at Churchill Downs May 2, Competitive Edge is one of six talented 3-year-olds entered in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens.
NOVAK: Competitive Edge Takes Pat Day Mile
Owned by Nancy Favreau, Kathy Psoinos, and Michael Tabor, Competitive Edge began his career by breaking his maiden by 10 1/4 lengths in his debut at Saratoga Race Course in July of last year.
In just his second start, Competitive Edge won the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga by 5 3/4 lengths, but suffered a hairline fracture to his left-front foot, ending his 2014 campaign.
Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Competitive Edge didn't make his 3-year-old debut until March 27, when he easily took the Tamarac Stakes by 8 1/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park.
From there, trainer Todd Pletcher sent the son of Super Saver to the Pat Day Mile and watched the colt set the stakes record, when he completed the mile 1:34.18.
Competitive Edge drew post 3 and will be ridden by John Velazquez, who has ridden the colt in all four career starts.
Chalk Racing's Ready for Rye will look to rebound in the Woody Stephens after tiring to third as the favorite in the April 4 Bay Shore Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Prior to the race, Ready for Rye upset the Mar. 7 Swale Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream, when he took the field gate-to-wire, defeating favored Daredevil.
The 3-year-old son of City Zip has been working steadily for his return to the races for trainer Tom Albertrani and might be the one to catch breaking from the rail under Luis Saez.
The gelding already owns a victory at Belmont, where he broke his maiden Oct. 11.
Besides saddling Competitive Edge, Pletcher will also start Two Weeks Off in the Woody Stephens, a month after the colt weakened to third as the favorite in the May 9 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II).
Two Weeks Off be back to seven furlongs Saturday, however, the distance at which he is two-for-two, breaking his maiden at Saratoga Aug. 30 and scoring in an allowance race at Keeneland April 4.
Two Weeks Off will be ridden by Javier Castellano and will leave from post 4.