'Ballet, 'Spanky Win at Aqueduct

Canadian Ballet and Spanky Fischbein won the $100,000 2-year-old divisions of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct Nov. 11.

The series is for progeny of stallions standing in New York.

In the juvenile filly division, the Fifth Avenue, Obviously NY Stable’s Canadian Ballet held off Sweet Bama Breeze by a half-length.

Under jockey Alan Garcia, the City Zip   filly scored her second win in four career starts for trainer Linda Rice and covered six furlongs on the fast main track in 1:11.14. She returned $18.80. Noble Fire finished third.

The Great White Way Division for juvenile colts and geldings went to Gold Square’s odds-on favorite Spanky Fischbein. The 1-2 choice wore down front-running Piquante Cat for a half-length victory in the six-furlong sprint.

The win was the second for the Hook and Ladder ridgling, who also ended a three-race string of runner-up finishes. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by jockey John Velazquez, Spanky Fischbein returned $3 to win while clocking 1:10.16 on a fast main track. Fort Drum finished third.

Elsewhere:

-- Red Zipper rallied down the center on the turf course to win the $75,000 Cormorant Division by three lengths, giving jockey Eibar Coa his third winner of the day.

The 9-5 favorite, a 4-year-old City Zip   gelding, completed the 1 1/16-mile distance over “good” going in 1:46.47 for his sixth win in 16 lifetime starts. Owned by Jeffrey Tucker and trained by John Morrison, Red Zipper paid $5.70. Pa Pa Do finished second, with Theconfidenceman third.

The Cormorant was the last of six races in the New York Stallion Series.

-- Hedgewick Stable’s Tamberino went gate-to-wire and won the $75,000 Staten Island Division, a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, in 1:23.14. Trained by Tom Bush and ridden by Eibar Coa, the 4-year-old Freud   filly returned $22.80 for her fourth win in 14 tries. It was three-quarters of a length back to Duchess of Rokeby in second, while favored Cammy’s Choice was two lengths farther behind in third.  

-- Thomas J. Farone Jr.’s heavily favored Factual Contender pulled away in the lane for a 3 3/4-length victory in the $75,000 Perfect Arc Division, a turf race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. It was the 10th win in 36 starts for the 6-year-old Thunder Puddles mare. The win was her first over Aqueduct’s turf course, which she completed in 1:45.71. Trained by Barclay Tagg and ridden by jockey Eibar Coa, she returned $2.80. Higher Incentive finished second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of Artistic Express.

-- Stunt Man returned $5.40 to win as he drew off from Gold and Roses in the $75,000 Thunder Rumble Division, a sprint at seven furlongs for a one-length victory. Trained by Gary Contessa for Winning Move Stable, Celebrity Group Stable and Island Wind Racing Stable, the 3-year-old Western Expression gelding carried jockey Javier Castellano home in 1:22.41. Gold and Roses finished five lengths ahead of Smash 'Em Sammy.

-- Roddy Valente’s and Vincent J. Scuderi’s More Angels led at every call to take the $75,000 Smart Angle, an overnight stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs. Under jockey John Velazquez, the 4-year-old Slew of Angels filly set a pace of 22.49; :46; :57.67 and won in 1:09.72 for her sixth victory in 35 starts. Trained by Bruce Levine, More Angels returned $10.20 to win.