**Please see the attached photo of Admiral Alex winning Sunday’s Arts and Letters at
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Contact: Jenny Kellner
ADMIRAL ALEX SCORES BIG IN ARTS AND LETTERS STAKES
ELMONT, N.Y. – Admiral Alex returned to the winner’s circle Sunday afternoon at Belmont Park for the first time since his maiden victory, going wire-to-wire under Cornelio Velasquez to post a 4 3/4-length victory over favored Our Dark Knight in the $70,000 Arts and Letters overnight stakes.
The 3-year-old son of Afleet Alex, who gained notoriety when he leapt from his maiden win at Saratoga Race Course on July 31 directly into the Grade 1 Travers, finishing last, quickly took the lead in Sunday’s 1 1/8-mile race, setting fractions of 22.56, 45.66 and 1:09.88 with Our Dark Knight close behind in striking position. Approaching the quarter-pole, Admiral Alex easily began opening up on his pursuers and was never threatened as he cruised under the finish line in 1:47.67 over the fast track.
The 5-2 second choice in the field of five sophomores, Admiral Alex returned $7.20 for a $2 win bet and earned $42,000. The colt is now 2-0-0 from four starts including his 10th-place finish in the Grade 1 Jamaica on the grass on October 9.
“He should be undefeated,” said Admiral Alex’s owner and trainer, Leon Blusiewicz, who paid $260,000 for the colt at the Keeneland September yearling sales in 2008. “He had excuses in the Travers and the
Blusiewicz said Admiral Alex would make his next and final start of 2010 in the Grade 3, $100,000 Discovery for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct Racetrack on November 20, after which he would winter in Florida before being brought back for a 4-year-old campaign that he hopes will include the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap.
“Cornelio thinks this horse can go 1 ¼, 1 ½ miles,” said Blusiewicz. “A mile should be no problem for him.”
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