Accountforthegold led every step of the way while setting a stakes record in the $168,400 New York Derby for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack on Saturday.The Mark Casse trainee covered the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43.78. He rebounded from a seventh place finish on the turf in the $100,000 C. Barley Stakes at Woodbine in his previous start. "We opted to run him on the turf which he didn't like," said Casse. "The timing was right, but he didn't like the surface."Jockey Raymond Sabourin sent the bay colt by Successful Appeal out of Accountess to the front and crossed the wire first by three lengths over Gold and Roses to pay $24.60, $9.10, and $5.50. Gold and Roses chased the winner in second the entire race and returned $9.20 and $4.70. Naughty New Yorker, winner of the Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont Park in the first leg of the Big Apple Triple, closed to be a distant third and paid $2.80. Sort It Out and Organizer were scratched.Accountforthegold earned $101,040 for owner Richard Simon.Bred by Sez Who Thoroughbreds, Accountforthegold has never been off the board in his seven lifetime starts on the dirt, including a second place finish in the Grey Breeders Cup (Can-II) at Woodbine on October 11. With the victory, he has now earned $269,611 in purse money in his career.
His next start is expected to be in the $150,000 Albany Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 24. (Chart, Equibase)