Trainer Kappes Earns Salute With Robb Win

(from Aqueduct report)
Salute Him beat Rogue Agent by 4 1/4 lengths Sunday in the $86,375 Alex M. Robb Handicap for New York breds at Aqueduct.

Salute Him, carrying 115 pounds and Richard Migliore, covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:44 2/5 on a fast track. It was the first stakes win for Salute Him and his trainer Steve Kappes.

Migliore saved ground with Salute Him and placed the gelding just off a speed duel between favorite Rogue Agent and Looks Expensive. The meet's leading jockey wheeled Salute Him outside in upper stretch and drove him home for the score.

Salute Him, a 5-year-old son of Sea Salute, earned $51,825 for Barry Seinfeld and Elizabeth K. Dodson. Salute Him's last four races were all on turf and he ran well, posting a pair of seconds. Coming into Sunday's race, Salute Him had just three wins but 11 runner-up finishes in his 31 starts.

The winner paid $35.40, $19.60 and $5.10. Rogue Agent returned $3.30 and $2.70, and Lord Of the Thunder paid $4.40 to show.

Rogue Agent, the 6-5 favorite, never got a breather on the front end, hounded the whole way by Looks Expensive. Rogue Agent stayed on well to be second, 1 ¼ lengths clear of Lord Ofthe Thunder in third. Looks Expensive weakened, but still managed to hold fourth.

In the $60,000 Open Mind for 2-year-old fillies at a mile and 70 yards, Dogwood Stable's Fond led all the way to win returning $35.40 with Victor Carrero aboard.

(Chart, Equibase)