Flatbird Stable's Shawklit Mint found herself with the right pace scenario on her favorite track and managed to score her first stakes victory Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct.She ran away to a 1 ¾-length victory in the the $75,000 Broadway Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares."This is very satisfying," said winning trainer Patrick Reynolds. "I'm glad we got her a stakes win. It's been a long, arduous campaign."Circumstances were in favor of the 4-year-old daughter of 1982 Wood Memorial winner Air Forbes Won. The Broadway was originally scheduled to be run at seven furlongs on the main track, but recent winter weather conditions kept the race on Aqueduct's inner dirt track at six furlongs. At three-quarters of a mile, Shawklit Mint had a record of 5-4-3 from 15 starts entering Saturday's card.More importantly, Shawklit Mint's record on the one-mile inner track was 4-2-0 from seven starts. It was little wonder that she went to post as the 4-5 favorite.Under Richard Migliore, Shawklit Mint sat comfortably off front-running Boundanddetermined, who took Luis Chavez through fractions of :22 3/5; :45 2/5 and :57 4/5. Carrying 114 pounds, Boundanddetermined got a nine-pound break from Shawklit Mint and that edge made her tough in the lane. But Shawklit Mint was unrelenting and wore down the leader to come the victor in 1:10 2/5 on the fast track. "She's very tough," said Migliore, who previously won the Broadway in 1989 with Cliffie and in 1997 with Dancin Renee. "Honestly, I thought she had to carry too much weight today, even though she won. The thing that has always impressed me about her is that she finds a way to win. She struggled a bit on the turn, and I attribute that to the weight. Once we straightened out and she switched leads, she really leveled off. " The winner paid $3.30, $2.50 and $2.10. At 13-1, Boundanddetermined returned $8.20 and $2.90 in a huge effort. She's Got the Beat paid $3.20 for third.
(Chart, Equibase)