Tested at top of the stretch by 4-5 favorite I Want Revenge , the front-running Redding Colliery battled back along the inside to register a two-length victory in the $73,500 Evening Attire Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Jan. 28 (VIDEO).
Making only his second start in 14 months, the 6-year-old son of Mineshaft went straight to the lead under jockey Alan Garcia and set comfortable fractions of :23.87, :47.81 and 1:11.63 seconds with the favorite in pursuit. Rounding the turn, I Want Revenge edged up alongside the pacesetter, but began drifting out in the stretch and was unable to hold off the resurgent gray, who covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.05.
“When he saw the others coming up he gave me a little push and kicked on and finished well,” said Garcia of Redding Colliery, who had come off a one-year layoff to finish sixth in a stakes at Parx Racing Nov. 23. “I knew my horse would give me a good finish, and I didn’t know how fit the favorite was.”
I Want Revenge, who remains winless in six starts since taking the Aqueduct's 2009 Wood Memorial (gr. I), held on for second with Junior Alvarado aboard, 1 ½ lengths in front of Jimanator and David Cohen. Completing the order of finish were 2010 Evening Attire winner Heart Butte and Thunder Ball.
Owned by Mrs. Fitri Hay, Redding Colliery returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since taking the Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II) Oct. 2, 2010. Subsequently promoted to second via a disqualification in the Clark Handicap (gr. I), he was off for most of 2011 with foot issues before his return at Parx.
“The Hay family has been so patient with this horse,” said Artie Magnuson, assistant to winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “They get all the credit for just letting us take our time. I’m so happy for them. Kiaran might want to take him to Florida; it’s whatever Kiaran and the Hay family decides. It’s good to see him back on track.”
Gainesway Thoroughbreds and 707 Stables bred Redding Colliery, who is out of the Zilzal mare Joop.
The 2-1 second choice, Redding Colliery returned $6.90 for a $2 win bet and earned $45,000. Overall, he is 7-3-3 from 20 starts, including a victory in the Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) in 2010, and has bankrolled $759,385.
Redding Colliery and Alan Garcia take the Evening Attire at Aqueduct.
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