Loving Gives Trainer Dutrow Big A Hat Trick

Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. had a superb day at Aqueduct Saturday, winning with all three starters he sent out, including Sanford Goldfarb's Loving, an easy victor of the $83,925 Gallant Fox Handicap.

Toward the back of the pack early in the 1 5/8-mile marathon, Loving advanced quickly nearing the far turn, opened a five-length lead at the top of the stretch and extended that margin to 7 ¾ lengths at the finish. The 7-year-old gelding covered the 13 furlongs in 2:45 under jockey Jose Espinoza and returned $41.80 to win.

Nothing Flat rallied to be second, 8 ¼ lengths in front of the third-place finisher Fisher Pond. Favorite Tailfromthecrypt never mounted a rally and finished seventh.

Dutrow, the leading trainer on the inner track with 15 victories from 31 starters, captured the early double with Just Gabi and Hogan's Spirit.

(Chart, Equibase)