| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 31, 2014 Contact: Najja Thompson
nthompson@nyrainc.com (718) 659 - 2244 Big Business professional in Alex M. Robb Stakes OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Facing New York-breds in the final New York Racing Association stakes race of the year, the $100,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack on Wednesday, 6-year old gelding Big Business gave his connections an early New Year's Eve celebration by winning his first stakes race of 2014. Previously, the 6-year-old gelding had finished second in five out of six New York-bred races this year for owner Gary Barber and trainer David Jacobson, the leading trainer in New York this year. "It was a bit frustrating to keep running and finishing second, but that's a credit to the competition he faced as well," said Jacobson. Under jockey Fernando Jara, Big Business broke alertly out of the gate and settled comfortably in third behind pacesetters West Hills Giant and Readthebyline through an opening quarter-mile of 23.74 seconds and 47.55 for the half. At the five-sixteenths pole, traveling three wide, he made his move toward the lead and finally grabbed it once in the upper stretch. In the late stages, he then impressively managed to hold off a late charging Beautyinthepulpit to complete the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.33 "I think he felt Rudy's horse [Beautyinthepulpit] coming on in the stretch and he fought on until the finish, that's the kind of horse he is," said Jacobson. Big Business, the 5-2 post-time favorite, returned $7.10 for a $2 wager and boosted his career earnings to $763,430 . Encouraged and pleased by his performance, Jacobson had yet to secure future plans.
"He surprises me all the time and we take one race at a time to see where he will be run next." Completing the order of finish were West Hills Giant, Effinex, Gridley Here, Awesome Vision, Readthebyline, and Sinistra. -30-
| 
