Accurate Wins on N.Y. Stallions Stakes Day

(from Aqueduct reports)
Puglisi Stables' Accurate benefited from a taxing speed duel to tally a come-from-behind neck victory in Sunday's $125,000 Great White Way Division for 2-year-olds colts and gelding, one of four stakes races on the New York Stallion Stakes schedule at Aqueduct.

In posting his second win in five career starts, Accurate and jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. reached the wire in the six-furlong event in 1:11 1/5.

Summerland and Rob's Boy Matt battled themselves to defeat through fractions of :21 4/5; :45 1/5 and :57 4/5. Summerland drew clear, but had nothing left to resist Accurate, who dove to the rail under Arroyo and prevailed in the final strides.

"I was concerned early on when he was as far back as he was," said winning trainer Steve Klesaris. "Then, when I saw :21 and 4, I felt a lot better. I saw him making a big move, and fortunately, we came and got him at the end. It was a very exciting horse race. "

The $75,000 winning share increased the juvenile's earnings to $115,688.

Arroyo was making his second start on the son of Precise End, who returned $.9.40, $4.70 and $3.40 to win. Summerland returned $4.80 and $3.60 and Distinctive Trick was $5.20 to show.

Favored Western Galaxy finished sixth.

(Chart, Equibase)

Focused Pa Pa Da Captures Cormorant
John and Theresa Behrendt's Pa Pa Da, apparently more focused with the addition of blinkers, took charge at the head of the lane and held off Thanasi and Unnerving to win the $100,000 Cormorant Division.

The 3-year-old Incurable Optimist gelding won the one-mile turf event, restricted to horses sired by a New York-based stallion, by a half-length in 1:37 3/5.

Stalking pacesetter Confident Cat from fifth through the early going of :23 2/5; :48 and 1:12 3/5, Pa Pa Da swung to the outside under jockey Jose Espinoza to take the lead coming off the far turn. He drew clear, but Unnerving made a move to the inside and Thanasi angled up on the outside for the stretch run. Neither showed enough to seriously challenge Pa Pa Da, who registered his third win from 14 lifetime starts and increased his earnings to $188,390.

"He's better than what he's been running," said winning trainer David Donk. "I think the blinkers helped him today. He settled very nicely early."

Pa Pa Da returned $11, $5.90 and $4.10 to win. Thanasi returned $5.80 and $3.70. Unnerving's show was $4.50.

(Chart, Equibase)

Karakorum Splendor Takes Fifth Avenue in Stroll
Karakorum Farm's Karakorum Splendor led at every call and turned away minor challenges from Avery Hall and Brassy Boots to prevail by 3 3/4 lengths as the 11-10 favorite in Sunday's $125,000 Fifth Avenue Division for 2-year-od fillies.

In winning the six-furlong event for fillies sired by New York stallions in 1:10 4/5, the daughter of A.P. Jet set fractions of :22 2/5; :45 4/5 and :58 under jockey Pablo Fragoso. Avery Hall, who stumbled at the break, was hustled up to challenge, but could not respond. Coming off the turn, Brassy Boots appeared to be strong but the move came up short, and the winner glided home.

It was the second winner in four starts for Karakorum Splendor, who came into Sunday's race off a troubled second in the Maid of the Mist on New York Showcase Day at Belmont Park on Oct. 23. The victory, worth $75,000, increased her earnings to $121,650.

"She had a ridiculous trip last time," said trainer Jimmy Jerkens. "I was a little bit worried about running her back so quick, because she is high-strung to start with. But for a $125,000 race, she certainly looked as good as anyone else in there, so we had to take a shot. She broke running. I would have been unbelievably disappointed if she would have packed it in."

She paid $4.30, $3 and $2.40. Avery Hall returned $4.80 and $2.90 and Brassy Boots was $2.40 to show.

(Chart, Equibase)

Surprise 'Decision' in Perfect Arc
Flying Zee Stable's 9-1 shot Kevin's Decision entered Sunday afternoon's fifth running of the $100,000 Perfect Arc Division with only one victory from 16 lifetime starts.

But the 4-year-old Expensive Decision filly proved up to the task as she carried jockey Edgar Prado to a 2 ¼-length victory over Expect Nothing, covering the one mile turf race in 1:37 3/5 over good going.

It was Prado's third winner of the afternoon, and was worth $21.80, $10.80 and $8 to the her backers.

"Edgar (Prado) rode a great race," said winning trainer Carlos Martin. "He saved all the ground. I thought it was a good opportunity to take a shot."

Prado kept his mount tucked in nicely behind Ma Femme, who went the first quarter of a mile in a sharp :23 1/5, and bided his time as the field bunched after a half of :47 3/5 and three quarters in 1:12 2/5.

Beautiful America, favored at odds of 3-5, finished ninth of 10.

Kevin's Decision increased her career earnings to $134,714.

Runner-up Expect Nothing returned $8 and $7.70 while South Wing's show was $13.

(Chart, Equibase)