by Ron Parker

Japanese multiple stakes winner Utopia (Jpn) put his class and determination on display Wednesday as he secured a hard-fought one-length victory in the $105,700 Westchester Handicap (G3) on opening day at Belmont Park.

The scratch of Park Avenue Ball reduced the field to five in the one-mile race, and Happy Hunting jumped out to the early lead with Utopia keeping close order in second.

Turning for home, jockey Mike Luzzi sent Utopia after the pacesetter, but a bigger challenge emerged as Political Force closed rapidly while 1.55-to-1 favorite Sun King roared around the turn with a full head of steam.

In midstretch, the trio matched strides across the track with Political Force lugging in on Sun King. The latter was getting the worst of it between Political Force and Utopia, who was in tight along the rail. Both outside runners edged past Utopia in the final furlong, but the seven-year-old Forty Niner horse found another gear and surged ahead to prevail in 1:33.23 on a track rated fast.

“He broke clean and we got a good spot,” Luzzi said. “I hit him a couple of times and he just surged for me.”

Political Force finished second but was disqualified to third for lugging in late in the stretch. Sun King was elevated to second.

Utopia had raced exclusively in his native Japan before venturing to Nad al Sheba racecourse in March 2005. He won the Jebel Ali International Hotels Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) by four lengths and was subsequently purchased by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum and placed in the care of trainer Saeed bin Suroor. The Westchester was his first start since the Godolphin Mile.

“He broke sharp and Mike [Luzzi] rode a really good race on him," said Rick Mettee, Suroor's United States assistant. "They were going fast enough; he let the other two horses go by him. When you come back to win and get by a horse like Sun King, you have to feel pretty good about the effort—especially off a 13-month layoff.”

Utopia, who increased his earnings to $4,887,885 with nine wins from 32 starts, will remain in the U.S. while his connections consider several options for his next start. He is out of the Northern Taste mare Dream Vision.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer