Princess Sweet's Win Tops NY Stallion Series

(from Aqueduct report)
Whos Next Racing Team's Princess Sweet, an easy winner when she broke her maiden at first asking at Aqueduct last Thursday, turned right around for trainer Linda Rice and captured the $125,000 Fifth Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Series for eligible 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs Sunday.

The Precise End filly took control on the turn and carried jockey Cornelio Velasquez to a 4 ¾-length victory in 1:11 3/5.

"I didn't have her fully cranked for her first race," Rice said. "I actually thought she would run a better race today than she did in her maiden race. This was too good of an opportunity to pass up. The filly has a lot of talent."

It was the second winner of the afternoon in the NY Stallion Series for Velasquez, who earlier won Cormorant Division with Retribution.

Princess Sweet, who won her maiden race by 9 1/4 lengths, returned $8.90.

$100,000 Cormorant Division: Our Canterbury Stable's favored Retribution made proper use of his speed and led all the way for a 3 1/4-length victory in the one-mile turf event in 1:37 1/5.

"This horse is fast and has a lot of class," said winning trainer John Hertler. "It looked like there was some other speed in there, so I was glad to see him get the lead by himself. I knew he had a lot left in the stretch, but I was still looking for that wire."

Under jockey Cornelio Velasquez, Retribution set a pace of :23 1/5; :47 1/5 and 1:12 1/5. Ths son of Rob 'n Gin returned $7 for his fourth career victory in 14 starts.

$100,000 Great White Way Division: John T. Becker's favored 2-year-old Classic Pack, carrying high weight of 122 pounds, broke on from the rail, battled Surfing Ian all the way and finally pulled away in the final yards for a 1 1/2-length victory in 1:11 1/5 for six furlongs on the fast main track.

Trained by Ramon "Mike" Hernandez, the Regal Classic colt has now won three of five career starts. It was the second NY Stallion Stakes winner of the day for jockey Pablo Fragoso, who earlier in the day guided Champagne Ending to a win in the Perfect Arc Division.

"This horse likes to be in a fight," Fragoso said. "He showed a lot of courage in the stretch. (Surfing Ian) ran with us the whole way and the better horse won. My horse is going to be a very nice 3-year-old. He is still learning. It's pretty exciting to win two stakes races in one day."

Classic Pack has now won three of five starts and returned $4.10 to win.

$125,000 Perfect Arc Division: Sovereign Stable and Gastas Stable's Champagne Ending, a winner at 46-1 on her first turf try last month, fooled no one this time and romped to a 6 1/4-length victory as the favorite in the one-mile turf event for fillies and mares.

"Getting back to two turns, I figured that she would be forwardly placed," said winning trainer John Terranova. "If someone went, I was hoping we would just tuck into a stalking position. Pablo (Fragoso, jockey) got her settled down nicely. She looked like much the best out there. This filly is really on the top of her game now."

The 3-year-old Precise End filly returned $6.10 as the favorite and has now won three of 15 career starts. Her winning time was 1:36 4/5 after setting fractions of :23 3/5; :48 2/5 and 1:12 2/5 on the firm course, with the portable rail down.

Champagne Ending returned $6.10 to win.

(Chart, Equibase)