Japan Runs Down Pletcher Pair in Easy Goer
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Barry Schwartz' Japan ran down stablemates Stanford and Nonna's Boy to win the scratch-depleted WinStar Easy Goer Stakes, the first race on the June 6 Belmont Park card .
Nonna's Boy, the 9-2 outsider in the three-horse field and one of two sent out by trainer Todd Pletcher, took a comfortable early lead in the 1 1/16-mile Easy Goer, with a two-length advantage over stablemate Stanford, the 2-5 favorite.
Nonna's Boy and jockey John Velazquez set fractions of :23.32, :46.42, and 1:10.42, continuing to lead into the stretch as the other two gave close pursuit. Japan began to move up rounding the turn and steadily made up ground after the mile was completed in 1:35.60. As Stanford also caught Nonna's Boy late, Japan, ridden by Junior Alvarado for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, drifted far out into the center of the track and edged clear by 1 1/4 lengths over Stanford at the wire.
The final time over a track labeled fast despite early-morning rain was 1:42.14. Nonna's Boy finished a neck back. With no place, show or exotic wagering, Japan paid $6.10 to win. Donworth and Combat Diver scratched.
"I said before the race he's the only horse that can upset American Pharoah," Mott said of the dual classic winner favored in the Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings (gr. I) later on the card. "I just had him in the wrong race. He's just getting it together. He's a young, inexperienced, immature horse and he's just getting it together, I'd say. He was impressive today."
"I'm very comfortable with the horse, riding him the last three times, and I've always been high on him," Alvarado said. "I just tried to be patient. They tried to box me in, but I had the best horse. As soon as I put him in the clear, he took off for me."
Japan became the 75th stakes winner for Medaglia d'Oro , who stands at Darley near Lexington for $125,000. Produced from the Capote mare Maya, Japan was bred in Kentucky by Emory A. Hamilton. Consigned by Gainesway to the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, the colt was purchased by Schwartz for $300,000.
The victory was the second in four starts for Japan, who broke his maiden at Churchil Downs in his third start previous to the Easy Goer. He improved his earnings to $129,000.