Break Water Edison took the overland route for jockey Alan Garcia to register his first stakes win in the $118,500 Nashua (gr. III) (VIDEO) for 2-year-olds at Aqueduct Nov. 2.
John Kimmel trains the Eli Gindi-owned son of Lemon Drop Kid who was making his fourth consecutive graded stakes appearance after breaking his maiden to begin his career at Belmont Park in July.
Break Water Edison was taken off the early pace in the one-turn mile while racing four-wide as Forty Thieves and Royal Vindication vied for the early lead through brisk early fractions of :22.96, :46.14 and 1:11.25. The seven-horse field was in tight formation as they swung out of the turn with Break Water Edison, coming under encouragement from Garcia while still wide. Break Water Edison gradually drew even with the leaders and took the lead from Royal Vindication approaching the furlong marker.
He widened his advantage while under steady urging in deep stretch, defeating lukewarm favorite Hello Broadway and Eibar Coa by 1 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:35.86. Royal Vindication, ridden by Javier Castellano, was defeated by a neck for the runner-up spot while more than five lengths clear of fourth-place Friesan Fire.
“He broke good and I let him be in the clear all the time," Garcia said. "He was so comfortable on the outside. When I asked him to go, he took off. I thought he was impressive today.”
Break Water Edison earned $71,100 for his second win in five starts, boosting his bankroll to $146,400. The bay colt was coming off an eighth-place finish in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 4, more than 16 lengths behind the victorious Vineyard Haven. Break Water Edison ran twice at Saratoga this summer, finishing fourth in the Hopeful (gr. I), again behind the winning Vineyard Haven, and second in the Saratoga Special (gr. II).
“Well, that was more like it," Kimmel said afterward. "In his last race I told the jockey to take him back. He took dirt in the face for six furlongs and got very discouraged. I think today was a very good performance. He galloped out super – the further, the better."
Kimmel said Break Water Edison would be taken to Florida to prepare for his 3-year-old campaign.
Caldara Farm bred the winner, who is out of August Storm (by Storm Creek), in Kentucky. Break Water Edison was a $525,000 2-year-old at the Ocala Breeders' Sale in March.
Sent off as the fifth choice, Break Water Edison paid $15.40, $7.80 and $4.60 while topping a $2 exacta worth $57.
Hello Broadway, who ran fifth in the Champagne for trainer Barclay Tagg, came on late after being shuffled back on the turn and returned $4.10 and $2.90.
A game Royal Vindication was $3.30 to show in his graded stakes debut for conditioner Stanley Hough.
Friesan Fire was followed by Tire Kicker, Prince Charming and Forty Thieves.