Jay Em Ess Stable’s Redeemed took over approaching the three-eighths pole and made it look easy the rest of the way, romping to a 2 1/4–length victory in the $100,000 Discovery Handicap (gr. III) (VIDEO) for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct Nov. 19.
The son of Include , sent off as the 7-5 favorite in a field of eight, could be one to watch as an older horse in 2012. This was his second consecutive stakes win, as he took the Oct. 16 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park in his last start.
Rick Dutrow Jr. trains Redeemed, who was ridden to victory by Edgar Prado.
Bred in Virginia by Morgan’s Ford Farm and out of the Pleasant Tap mare Early Mass, Redeemed was a $50,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2009 Eastern Fall yearling sale. He was consigned by Morgan’s Ford Farm.
Redeemed received a perfect stalking trip under Prado, racing just behind pacesetter Ghost Gunner. With John Velazquez in the irons, Ghost Gunner clicked off comfortable opening fractions of :24.06 and :48.49. But as they rounded the far turn, he took a bad step and quickly began to retreat. He dropped back sharply and was pulled up by Velasquez. He was later vanned off.
That left the door open for Redeemed, who assumed the lead and was well ahead of his nearest challengers, Raison d'Etat and Socialsaul, when they came off the turn. He had a commanding 2 1/2-length advantage at the eighth-pole and was never threatened in the stretch.
Redeemed covered 1 1/16 miles on the main track in 1:49.22. Socialsaul and Ramon Dominguez settled for second, 3 3/4 lengths in front of Raison d'Etat. Arthur's Tale was fourth.
“He ran such a good race last time in the Oklahoma Derby,” Prado said. “I think he’s a horse that is moving forward; since they put on the blinkers he’s a completely different horse. He got a beautiful trip today. He broke well, was right there, he was pretty handy all the way around.”
Redeemed has never finished off the board in eight career starts. This was his fifth win of the year and he upped his earnings to $484,140. He also finished second in both the Amsterdam (gr. II) at Saratoga and Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx Racing earlier this year.
“I have to tell you, he was very impressive to me today,” Dutrow said. “I was not thinking I was going to see that, but I’m glad I did. Very impressive. The last time he ran, he was behind horses and split horses; today, he stalked them. We put the blinkers on him the last couple of times and that seems to have moved him up a notch, too.
“Edgar really liked the way he responded last time, and today he was so impressive. To me, every step around there, I knew he was going to win the race. When they came to him, he just spurted away again. It was exciting. He’ll probably run at Gulfstream Park next.”
Redeemed paid $4.90, $2.80, and $2.10. The exacta (4-5) returned $23 and the trifecta (4-5-6) was worth $64.