by Ron Parker

Four Roses Thoroughbreds’s City Attraction pressed pacesetter Debussy and battled with that rival through the stretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length in the $105,100 Gravesend Handicap (G3) on Saturday at Aqueduct.

With the scratch of P. Kerney, only five runners entered the starting gate for the six-furlong race on the inner track. The Gravesend had originally been scheduled for December 16 but was rescheduled when an impending storm forced Aqueduct officials to cancel that day’s card.

Three of the entrants—City Attraction, Debussy, and Joey P.—last raced in Aqueduct’s Fall Highweight Handicap on November 22, and Debussy was first out of the gate with City Attraction a head behind through a half-mile in 45:95.

Behind them, Joey P. missed the break and lost ground before being hustled up to third position outside of the dueling leaders.

Down the stretch only a head separated the leaders while Joey P., on the outside, was closing in. City Attraction was finally able to pass Debussy nearing the wire and crossed the finish line in 1:11.97 on the muddy track. Joey P., whose poor start left him too much to do while in search of his tenth stakes victory, finished gamely for second, a half-length to the good of Debussy.

“We played the track today,” winning jockey Mike Luzzi said. “We were a little aggressive out of there. They told me if he gets into a fight that he’ll fight for you. I just followed orders and he was right.”

Bred in Kentucky by Lothenbach Stables, City Attraction is out of the Quiet American mare American Slew. The four-year-old Vicar colt improved to five wins in 16 career starts and increased his earnings to $251,299.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer