NEWS
Alpha lives up to expectations in Count Fleet
Posted: Saturday, January 07, 2012 5:22 PM
ALPHA
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
For video of the Count Fleet Stakes, click here.
by Ron Parker
Godolphin Racing’s Alpha justified his 4-to-5 favoritism on Saturday in the Count Fleet Stakes, rallying from just off the pace to draw away late for a 2½-length triumph in Aqueduct’s first stakes race of the year for Triple Crown hopefuls.
With jockey Ramon Dominguez aboard for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, the three-year-old Bernardini colt tracked the leaders from third for much of the one-mile and 70-yard race before launching a three-wide bid entering the stretch and pulling away for the victory.
“They went pretty slow,” Dominguez said. “Two sprinters were in the front, and I wasn’t overly concerned about having him any closer, but because of the lack of pace his move was kind of gradual. We were just grinding. Turning for home, he responded every time I asked him. He galloped out so strong that I had to get an outrider to pull him up.”
Alpha won his debut by six lengths going seven furlongs at Saratoga Race Course on September 3, then finished second to Union Rags, a finalist for the Eclipse Award for champion two-year-old male, in the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. He rounded out his juvenile campaign a disappointing 11th in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs.
“When he won first time out going seven-eighths, that was a good sign,” said Art Magnuson, assistant to McLaughlin. “Ramon was pretty impressed [today]. He seemed to think it was going to be even better in the future.”
Out of the stakes-winning Nijinsky II mare Munnaya, Alpha is a half brother to Group 3-placed stakes winner Mystic Melody. He increased his earnings to $180,000 with his second win from four career starts.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
