NEWS
Society’s Chairman last to first in Appleton
Posted: Saturday, March 20, 2010 6:52 PM
SOCIETY'S CHAIRMAN
Coglianese Photos
To view the Appleton Stakes, click here.
by Tim Nichols
Society’s Chairman closed with a flourish from the outside in midstretch to nip Grade 1 winner Rahy’s Attorney at the finish line and win the $100,000 Appleton Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Roger Attfield for Charles Fipke, the seven-year-old Not Impossible (Ire) horse won in his first start away from Woodbine in nearly a year. Society’s Chairman covered 7 ½ furlongs on firm turf in 1:27.79.
Rahy’s Attorney, the 2008 Canadian champion turf male and Woodbine Mile Stakes (Can-G1) winner, briefly took the lead from pacesetter Storm Play in midstretch but Society’s Chairman powerfully closed from the outside to nip the fellow Woodbine regular by head.
Society’s Chairman saved ground at the back of the eight-horse field as Storm Play led through a half-mile in :47.70. Society’s Chairman advanced on the turn under Jose Lezcanobefore closing with a rush to pick up his first graded stakes win.
“I knew at the quarter-pole that I had plenty of horse, and when the other horses started to move, it was time to ask my horse for his run,” Lezcano said. “And when I asked him, he gave a big kick from the quarter [pole] to the wire.”
Bred in Ontario by Errol Bailey, Society’s Chairman improved to seven wins from 20 career starts and earnings of $470,295. He is one of two winners from three starters out of the winning Olympio mare Athena’s Smile, a half sister to Grade 1 winner Hodges Bay.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Tim Nichols is internet content editor of Thoroughbred Times
