Protonico Flies From Last to Win Discovery
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Protonico powered past favorite Bay of Plenty in early stretch and kicked on for a clear win in the $200,000 Discovery Handicap (gr. III) Nov. 1 at Aqueduct Racetrack, completing an easy last-to-first rally .
With Joe Bravo aboard, the son of Giant's Causeway crossed the finish line 2 3/4 lengths to the good of 3-2 choice and runner-up Bay of Plenty and covered 1 1/8 miles on sealed sloppy track in 1:51.92.
Protonico, who entered race off a disappointing seventh in the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II), was squeezed shortly after the start and lagged well behind in the seven-horse field as Bay of Plenty clocked strong opening fractions of :23.18 and :47.56 for the first half mile. .
Entering the far turn, Protonico began to uncoil his run while traveling four wide, and after taking command pulled clear from his rivals to prevail.
"He really loved the mud, but I think he could have handled any type of surface," Bravo said. "I was just the passenger. The horse was very relaxed about everything and turning for home, he was just playing through there."
Since transferring to trainer Todd Pletcher for his 2014 campaign, Protonico has won three of five starts, including the Smarty Jones Stakes (gr. III) Sept. 1 at Parx Racing before the Pennsylvania Derby.
"Things didn't go quite right (in the Pennsylvania Derby); we might have run him back a little too soon," said Byron Hughes, assistant to Pletcher. "Every morning he shows he can run at any time. He hasn't missed a beat since and had been training great. We'll see how he comes out and go from there."
Off at 5-1, Protonico returned $13.60, $.50, and $3.50 while Bay of Plenty brought $3.50 and $3. Just Call Kenny, who checked in third, a half length behind Bay of Plenty, paid $4.40. The top three finishers all carried high weight of 118 pounds.
Just Call Kenny finished six lengths clear of Our Caravan while Away Game, Noble Moon, and Three Alarm Fire completed the order of finish.
The winner's share of $120,000 bumped Protonico's earningsl to $389,715. Owned by Sumaya U.S. Stable and bred in the name of his International Equities Holding Inc., he has a 5-0-1 career line from eight career starts. A Kentucky-bred, he is out of the A.P. Indy mare Alpha Spirit.