Attfield wins the Central Park, NYRA Photo
Christian Abdo
Rainbow’s End Racing Stable and West Paces Racing’s Attfield saved all the ground under Ricardo Santana, Jr. en route to capturing Friday’s Listed $150,000 Central Park, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for juveniles, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Tom Morley, the Vekoma chestnut entered from a 2 1/2-length third in the six-furlong Grade 3 Futurity on October 3 here, which followed a rallying debut victory over subsequent Listed stakes-winner Schwarzenegger sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on August 29 at Saratoga Race Course.
Attfield, named in honor of Morley’s late assistant John Attfield, secured his first stakes win on Friday in his longest race to date.
“Today was a very important day – firstly, I thought it was important we didn’t go to the front – he’s been running in fast sprint races,” Morley said. “Ricardo and I spoke about that this morning, and he and I both thought he should be sitting in the catbird seat right behind whoever was in front.
“He’s done everything right today and he’s proved he can stretch out in distance,” Morley added.
Attfield broke inwardly from the inside post as did Honey Dutch from post 5, who still made the lead despite bumping with Noble Dynasty and Jutland exiting the chute. Honey Dutch, when clear, was tracked by Jutland through an opening quarter-mile in 24.25 seconds over the firm turf.
“Going from a sprint to long, I knew he was going to break sharp, and I wanted to make sure he relaxed the first couple quarters and he did it,” said Santana, Jr., aboard for the first time in the afternoon. “He broke good, I took a little hold and put him behind the speed and he responded really well.”
Santana, Jr. saved ground aboard Attfield from third position in the first turn as Honey Dutch marked the half-mile in 49.58 and the most notable move came from Beach Ballad who quickly improved in the three-path under Flavien Prat, passing Attfield for third through three-quarters in 1:13.04.
Attfield was in fourth position along the inside as Honey Dutch attempted to kick away when straightened for home. As Jutland and Beach Ballad stalled, Attfield tipped off the rail into the opening in the two-path with his sights set on Honey Dutch as Noble Dynasty rallied down the center of the course under Junior Alvarado.
“I just wanted to stay inside. They’re 2-year-olds and they’re learning and I don’t want to take him out to the clear too early,” said Santana, Jr. “I just waited to turn for home and when he saw the clear, he gave me a nice finish.”
Honey Dutch battled into the final sixteenth before Attfield edged clear, with enough of a jump on the oncoming Hall of Famer Bill Mott-trained favorite Noble Dynasty to win by a half-length in a final time of 1:43.87.
Honey Dutch held third a neck back, with a dead-heat for fourth between Jutland and Beach Ballad. Sun Above, Omaha Storm and Likeness completed the order of finish.
“Ricardo said as soon as he saw fresh air he really did quicken up very nicely,” Morley said. “Then the last five strides, you’re just hoping he can hold off the Mott horse.”
With the local turf season coming to an end, Morley said he’d consider trying Attfield on the dirt next.
“We know that he’s decent sprinting on turf and decent going long on the turf – there’s the question mark of whether he can run on the dirt as well,” Morley said. “We’ll give him some time to get over this. He worked very well on dirt. I’ve seen so much physical improvement from him on the turf getting stronger and stronger that we’ll give the dirt a go and if the dirt doesn’t work, we’ll put him away for the winter and bring him back for the turf season next year.
“I’d like him to be in a one-turn race on the dirt. He’s got natural gears,” Morley continued
Alvarado said Noble Dynasty, who entered from a fifth in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Pilgrim on October 3 here, was game after being squeezed in the run-up out of the chute.
“It was a tough trip, but nothing we could have done,” Alvarado said. “I made a move at the three-eighths pole, and we got fanned out six or eight wide and just barely got beat. We finished second today being much the best in the race.”
Attfield, bred in Kentucky by Jose Martin Ramirez, was purchased for $220,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is out of the Street Boss mare Graceful Witch, a half-sister to stakes-winner Ray’s Away. He banked $82,500 in victory while improving his record to 3-2-0-1 and returning $9.64 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack with a 10-race card, featuring the Listed Dwyer [Race 3], the Listed Pumpkin Pie [Race 4], the Grade 3 Hill Prince [Race 7], the Grade 2 Mother Goose [Race 9] and the Grade 3 Long Island [Race 10]. First post is 11:40 a.m. Eastern.
America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
