Lord Snowdon possesses the pedigree to be a stakes winner, and he’ll get the chance to make good on his regal bloodlines when he faces six others in the $75,000 Paumonok Handicap Jan. 26 at Aqueduct.
Lord Snowdon, a 5-year-old gelded son of Seeking the Gold, makes his stakes debut for trainer Tony Dutrow and owner Michael Dubb. Dutrow claimed Lord Snowdon, who was bred by W.S. Farish and Kilroy Thoroughbred Partnership, for $75,000 in January 2007. Lord Snowdon’s dam, the unraced Weekend Storm, is the daughter of 1992 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise, and the half-sister to 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy and 1990 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Squall.
Although not rubbing elbows in stakes company, Lord Snowdon was extremely consistent last year, winning four of 11 starts, and finishing second on three occasions. He won allowance races at Saratoga, Aqueduct, and Delaware Park.
Dutrow said the gelding’s last race – a fourth-place finish as the favorite in a Nov. 26 optional claimer at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack – was his only disappointing performance since being claimed. Dutrow, however, does believe there is a reason behind the defeat.
“The race was run in very bad fog; and I have seen very bad fog at Aqueduct, but this was as bad as I have ever seen,” Dutrow said. “He’s a come-from-behind sprinter and likes a target. I don’t think Lord Snowdon knew what was going on that day. He didn’t see where the competition was.”
Dutrow is hoping for a lively pace for Lord Snowdon, who will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez from post three in the six-furlong Paumonok.
Dutrow’s brother, Rick, sends out City Attraction, who won the Gravesend (gr.III) at Aqueduct Dec. 29. City Attraction, the 118-pound highweight, has tactical speed and figures to be tracking probable pacesetters Man of Danger and Debussy.
The Paumonok features two runners with solid back class, Like Now and Adore the Gold, who are looking to regain the form that led them to graded stakes wins earlier in their careers. Like Now, the 2006 Gotham Stakes (gr.III) winner, has had a largely disappointing campaign since the Gotham. Adore the Gold seeks his first win since taking last year’s Swale Stakes (gr. II).
Debussy, who changed hands a couple of times through the claiming box in 2007, finished third in the Gravesend.
Leo, a group winner in England, seeks his first win since capturing the 2005 Royal Lodge Stakes (GB–II) at Newmarket. Man of Danger is coming off a win in a third-level allowance at Aqueduct Dec. 28.
$75,000 Paumonok Handicap (Race 8, 3:49 p.m.), Three-Year-Olds & Up, Six Furlongs
PP,Horse,Weight,Jockey Name
1. Adore the Gold (KY), 116, Rajiv Maragh
2. Man of Danger (FL), 115, Stewart Elliott
3. Lord Snowdon (KY), 115, Ramon A. Dominguez
4. Like Now (FL), 115, Alan Garcia
5. Leo (GB), 114, Jermaine V. Bridgmohan
6. City Attraction (KY), 118, Michael J. Luzzi
7. Debussy (FL), 114, Channing Hill