Wednesday, April 21, 2010

DR. W OUTGAMES MR. FANTASY IN BILLY REDCOAT STAKES

**Please see the attached photo of Dr. W, on the inside, defeating Mr. Fantasy, on the outside, in the Billy Redcoat Stakes. Credit NYRA, Adam Coglianese**

Billy Redcoat Recap: Wednesday, April 21, 2010

 

DR. W OUTGAMES MR. FANTASY IN BILLY REDCOAT STAKES

 

By Jenny Kellner

 

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Seemingly beaten at the eighth pole, a tenacious Dr. W battled back through the final yards and upset heavily favored Mr. Fantasy to win the $60,000 Billy Redcoat Stakes Wednesday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack.

 

Mr. Fantasy, last year’s Grade 3 Withers winner who was making his second start off a lengthy layoff, quickly assumed a narrow lead over Dr. W in the seven-furlong stakes for New York-breds, taking the field through a quarter-mile in 22.91 and a half-mile in 45.36.

 

Straightening for home, Mr. Fantasy shook clear of Dr. W, opening up by three lengths, but Dr. W refused to quit, coming on again along the inside and getting up by a half-length for his third straight win.

 

His time for the seven furlongs was 1:22.78.

 

“He just never stops trying,” said Toby Sheets, assistant to winning trainer Steve Asmussen, of the 5-year-old gelded son of Cat Thief. “He’s all heart.”

 

Winning jockey David Cohen echoed Sheets’ thoughts.

 

“He tries so hard all the time,” he said. “What a big heart!”

 

Sent off at 6-1, Dr. W returned $15.40 for a $2 win bet as he earned $36,000 for Millennium Farms and extended his lifetime record to 9-5-6 from 30 starts.

 

Mr. Fantasy, who had finished third in his first start of 2010, is now 3-1-2 from six starts for West Point Thoroughbreds.

 

“He got tired in the last eighth,” said Ramon Dominguez, aboard the 2-5 favorite. “He moved forward off his last race, and I think he’ll move forward off this.”

 

Completing the order of finish were Uncle T Seven, Love Abroad, Mor Chances, Groomedforvictory, and Good Card.

 

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