|
Vanderkaay with jockey Rosie Napravnik
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
|
LAUREL, MD. 02-02-08---Handicapping it before hand, the race came up inscrutable and the result played out the same way as Bowman Thoroughbreds LLC’s Vanderkaay drove to victory in the $70,000 Dancing Count Stakes.
Sent to post at 8-1 under jockey Rosie Napravnik, the 3-year-old son of Malibu Moon was one six runners in the nine horse field accorded a winning chance by the fans at Laurel Park. Far back early, Napravnik kept Vanderkaay close to the rail and after saving all the ground, drove through a gaping opening along the fence and took the lead in mid-stretch. At the finish, Vanderkaay had won by 2-3/4 lengths over Ghostly Thunder in 1:10.70 for six furlongs over the good track. Front runner Vigors Storm finished third.
The winner paid $18 and topped a $115.20 exacta and $766.60 triple.
Vanderkaay is trained by Ferris Allen and has now won three of six starts. After debuting at Delaware Park last summer, Allen moved his charge to Florida where he won a pair of races at Calder then was fourth in the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay two weeks ago.
“I actually got on this horse before he ever ran,” Napravnik said. “I knew he was nice and I’m glad I got to hook up with him again. Today we got a good trip. The race set up well for him and he really showed how good he is.”
“As the day developed we saw the horse who beat him at Tampa (Surrealdeal) finish second in the Swale Stakes at Gulfstream and that gave us a little extra hope,” Allen said. “We have been treating this horse like a come from behind sprinter and we were more than happy there was speed in this race.”
Allen, who ranks second in the Laurel trainer standings with 10 victories, indicated Vanderkaay would be pointed towards the Miracle Wood Stakes here on March 1.
Napravnik, who will turn 20 next Saturday, leads the colony with 23 winners.
-MJC-