September 7, 2009

Fat Nick probably got into more trouble in the Aspirant Stakes that his owner would have liked but in the end, the classy son of Five Star Nick ran down the speed before pulling away to his first added-money victory and third victory overall.  Gelded in early July by his owner, he was an impressive allowance winner at SAR in his last start and used a similar spurt here, basically running for only the final furlong en route to a two-length score in sharp final time of 1:11.70.  His $126.000 bankroll is set to rise substantially if he stays at FL, where the NY Breeders Futurity awaits at the exact same distance, but for a cool $200.000 as compared to the $100.000 purse offered here.

The opening furlong of the Aspirant Stakes was truly a sight to see as Opa Road (4.20) simply exploded out of the gate and quickly established a two-length lead in the opening furlong and while Bad Truth (3.00) was able to get up into contention, the opening quarter-mile of 22.83 clearly took its toll on the front-runner.  Bad Truth moved forward to engage the leader going into the far turn and actually took the lead before feeling pressure from Natal Danseur and as the pitched battle up front continued, the closers were simply licking their chops and waiting for the perfect time to pounce.  With Opa Road battling back on the inside, Bad Truth stalled in between horses, Natal Danseur stuck three-wide and a half-mile up in a cutthroat 46.49, all it took for Fat Nick (*1.00) to win was to find running room and at the top of the lane, the leaders drifted out and by the 1/8th pole, the hole was there.  With a decisive thrust, the son of Five Star Nick burst forward under top jockey J R Davila Jr and came away with a two-length win over Natal Danseur, who stalled when it counted most and could only manage second.  Bad Truth held best of the rest in third, Opa Road weakened badly in the final furlong and Blue Rust (63.45) never got going, finishing last in the field of five.

Fat Nick could not have gotten an easier win in the Aspirant and even though he encountered more traffic trouble than he should have, he really only had to run hard for the final furlong and gifts like that come along once in a blue moon.  A race like the NY Breeders Futurity is perfectly suited for this colt since he will have to face a similar group, at the same distance, but for double the purse money; what could be easier than that?

Congratulations go out to Jsl Racing and their two-year-old gelding Fat Nick, a rousing winner of the Aspirant Stakes at FL!

Prediction                             Natal Danseur / Fat Nick / Bad Truth

Winner                                  Fat Nick

                                                Two-year-old chestnut gelding

                                                Five Star Nick-Dountshop Princess (Fun Police)

Owner                                   Jsl Racing

Time                                      22.83, 46.49, 59.06, 1:11.70

Overall

Fat Nick                                *1.00      in behind rivals, found room late, driving

Natal Danseur                     3.25        hung three-wide, stalled, even second

Bad Truth                             3.00        sprinted forward into turn, no late threat

Opa Road                              4.20        set pace, weakened when asked

Blue Rust                             63.45      outrun