NEWS
Front-running Laus Deo dominant in Count Fleet
Posted: Saturday, January 02, 2010 5:34 PM
LAUS DEO
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
To view the Count Fleet Stakes, click here.
by Ron Parker
Fox Hill Farm’s Laus Deo utilized a December 1 maiden win at Philadelphia Park as a steppingstone to his first stakes victory on Saturday as he led at every point of call for a three-quarter-length score in the $65,000 Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct.
The one-mile and 70-yard Count Fleet featured seven three-year-olds, including 2-to-5 favorite Ibboyee, a three-time stakes winner against New York-breds who entered off a 2 ½-length victory at Aqueduct in the Damon Runyon Stakes on December 6.
Jockey David Cohen sent Laus Deo to the front as jockey Ramon Dominguez settled Ibboyee just off the flank of the leader.
“I just let him take me of the gate,” Cohen said. “He’s got a big, long stride, obviously. He’s a huge horse.
“I had a lot of horse the whole way. He relaxed well for me, and every time they came to him he’d give me more, even without me having to ask him.”
Turning for home, Turbo Speed ranged up to challenge while Ibboyee had no response.
Turbo Speed drew within a length of Laus Deo in early stretch, but flattened out and finished third. Worth a Buck made a late run to wrest second from Turbo Speed but never seriously threatened Laus Deo, who crossed the finish line in 1:44.91 on a track rated as fast.
Ibboyee finished fourth, 5¼ lengths behind the winner.
Laus Deo increased his career earnings to $75,340 with his second victory from four starts for trainer Tony Dutrow.
“I think it’s pretty obvious he’s still learning,” Dutrow said from Florida after watching Laus Deo’s victory on television. “He got away on the lead without anyone contesting him and that was a big break. He was able to set very easy fractions.”
Dutrow said he has not decided on a future target for the Medaglia d’Oro colt.
“I’ll have to get together with Rick Porter [of Fox Hill Farms] to figure out what’s next,” Dutrow said. “I know New York has a great series of races for three-year-olds, so we have that as an option.”
Laus Deo is the third winner from as many starters out of the stakes-winning Alysheba mare Shebane and her first stakes winner.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
