America Last to First in Affectionately

Bobby Flay's America went from last to first in a field of eight to win the $100,000 Affectionately Stakes Jan. 1 at Aqueduct Racetrack .

It was the first stakes of the New York Racing Association's 2015 season.

America, a 4-year-old A.P. Indy filly who regularly competed in major graded stakes in 2014, won for the third time in a row. She previously had won two allowance races at Aqueduct.

America covered the 1 1/16 miles on the fast inner dirt track in 1:44.68. Penwith finished a nose behind in second, three lengths ahead of stablemate Divided Attention. Heavily favored Belle Gallantey, a two-time grade I winner in 2014, checked in fifth.

America, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, paid $10.40 to win.

"There was plenty of pace up front," said Mott's assistant, Leanna Willaford. "Normally, you have to really pedal on her to get her going, but Junior said she really took him today. You could see in the turn, she ran around the turn a little better than normal, and continued to finish well from there.

"It was great to get her a stakes win; that's obviously what we've been shooting for, for many starts."

America, out of the Fasliyev mare Lacadena, was bred in Kentucky by Flay. The victory was the fourth in 13 starts for the filly who has earned $306,940. America finished third last year in the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) and Gulfstream Oaks (gr. III).