Brereton C. Jones' homebred Jose Sea View battled Coltimus Prime all the way to capture the $126,195 Display Stakes (VIDEO) for 2-year-olds Dec. 8 at Woodbine.
Trained by Reade Baker and ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson, Jose Sea View completed the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.39 over Polytrack. Jose Sea View engaged pacesetting Coltimus Prime down the backstretch through fractions of :24.52, :49.62, and 1:13.97. That duo battled neck and neck through the homestretch with the bay son of Badge of Silver emerging a neck winner.
Jose Sea View, a maiden winner at first asking, captured the Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Stakes at Presque Isle Downs Sept. 26. He followed that effort up with an even fifth-place run in the Nashua Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 3 when trying dirt for the first time.
Wilson believes that Jose Sea View's experience was a key factor in turning back Coltimus Prime, fresh off an impressive eight-length maiden romp over Canadian-breds, to earn a second stakes score.
"He really learned a lot in the last couple of races going to Presque Isle and then to New York," said Wilson. "He didn't really handle the surface off the hop in New York, but I think it really helped him out as a maturing horse sitting behind and getting some dirt in his face. I think that's an advantage that we had for today."
Jose Sea View, with his third win from five starts, improved his Sovereign Award credentials in the contentious juvenile male category. The Kentucky-bred is out of the Prized mare Stirling Bridge.
Carrying 119 pounds, he returned $7.20, $4.60 and $2.40 as the second choice in a field of seven. He paired with Coltimus Prime ($10.30, $4.10) for a $50.80 (3-1) exacta. The 6-5 favorite, Ami's Holiday , finished five lengths behind the winner and paid $2.10 to show. Danzig Storm, Downey Gap, Man Cave, and Bear's Cowboy completed the order of finish.
Jose Sea View wins the Display Stakes.
Michael Burns