(from Belmont Park report)
The veteran Cosmonaut proved he has rebounded from an ankle fracture that had kept him out of action since last July by overcoming favored Tam Lin to win the (gr. IIIT)
(VIDEO) $106,500 Fort Marcy Stakes over Belmont Park's Widener Turf Course on May 2.
The 1 1/16-mile Fort Marcy, previously run at Aqueduct, was the eighth victory of Cosmonaut’s 33-race career. The 7-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid suffered a non-displaced fracture of his right front ankle last summer, shortly after he ran second to Stream Cat in the Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) on July 12.
“What a nice horse to ride!,” exclaimed jockey Jose Lezcano. “He broke good, settled in well, and when I asked him for run he gave me that big kick. It was pretty push-button for me.”
Flying Zee Stable’s Cosmonaut won by 1 1/2 lengths and paid $6.20, $3.10 and $2.60 to win as the second choice of the crowd of 8,222. He pressed a pace of :23.45, :46.67 and 1:10.71 set by Tam Lin, and he worked hard to get the lead mid-stretch with the portable rail out 27 feet.
“When I saw the fast fractions, I was a little concerned,” said winning trainer Phil Serpe. “The turf is a little soft and they were going pretty fast for soft turf, but he showed how great he really is today. He’s an unbelievable little horse.”
The British-bred Tam Lin, the 7-5 choice in the field of six, finished second by a neck and paid $2.90 and $2.40. Operation Red Dawn ($3.20 to show) was followed by Interpatation, Silver Tree and Museeb.
Dancing Forever, winner of last year’s Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT), was scratched, as were main-track only entrants Formal King and Mor Chances.
