Aigue Marine Wins Long Island in Third Try
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By Jerry Bossert
With the benefit of a perfect ground-saving trip under John Velazquez, Aigue Marine rallied up the rail to catch favored Danza Cavallo in the $200,000 Long Island Handicap (gr. IIIT) on yielding turf Nov. 8 at Aqueduct Racetrack .
Sent off as the 13-2 third choice in the field of 12, Aigue Marine won the Long Island for the first time after finishing third in 2012 and sixth last year as the favorite. She surged late to prevail by a neck over French import Danza Cavallo.
The 5-year-old daughter of Galileo earned her second grade III victory this year to go along with the Robert G. Dick Memorial from Delaware Park July 5.
Always prominent in the 1 1/2-mile test, Aigue Marine raced in third after breaking from the rail and stayed glued to the inside for Velazquez. She tipped off the rail briefly at the top of the stretch to pass the tiring pacesetter Invading Humor before getting back to the fence and finishing with just enough run to overtake Danza Cavallo in the last few strides.
"The trip (Velazquez) gave her was between superb and unbelievable," winning trainer Christophe Clement said. "That's what you call saving ground."
Danza Cavallo was made the 8-5 favorite having won three of 11 starts to begin her career in France. She was making her North American debut for new trainer Chad Brown with Lasix added.
The 3-year-old filly took over at the top of the stretch after following Invading Humor through a :51.16 half mile, a 1:44.67 mile, and 10 furlongs in 2:10.32. But after opening a one-length edge midstretch, she couldn't hold off the late bid from Aigue Marine, who was winning for the fifth time from 17 starts.
"There were only two speed horses, and I (thought I'd) come out of there and get it the way I wanted, try to sit and wait, and that's the way it worked out," Velazquez said. "I had to bide my time inside the quarter pole, but at the three-sixteenths pole she came running. I wanted to make sure I had room. Once I cleared the horse inside (Invading Humor), and I pulled her out, she was running really good, and I said 'I'm going to get there.' "
In her previous start, Aigue Marine finished fifth, beaten by four lengths in the Glens Falls Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 31.
"She went a bit off form last time, otherwise she's always been a nice filly," Clement said.
Aigue Marine is out of the dam Aiglonne, by Silver Hawk, and was bred in Great Britain by Haras du Mezeray and Skymarc Farm, who also own her.
She began her career racing in France for trainer Nicolas Clement, Christophe's older brother. The bay mare won two of six career starts in France before finishing third in the 2012 Long Island Handicap in her U.S. debut, where she was then transferred to Christophe's barn.
"We've tried to win the Long Island with her for a few years," Clement said. "It's wonderful she's done it this year. She's going to go back to Europe and become a broodmare now."
Aigue Marine returned $15.20 to win, $6 to place, and $4.90 to show, covering the distance in 2:35.37. Danza Cavallo paid $3.60 to win and $2.90 to show, while Maximova finished two lengths farther back and returned $5 to show.
Songoficeandfire, Tabreed, Meri Shika, Auld Alliance, Hellenistic, Invading Humor, Viva Rafaela, Giant Shadow, and Embarr completed the order of finish. Angegreen and also-eligible Bohemian Dance were scratched.