Just Beat the Odds, NYRA Photo
Christian Abdo
Donna Wright’s Just Beat the Odds made a successful graded stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Elite Power, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Gregg Sacco, the 5-year-old Munnings dark bay was gelded prior to his current 5-year-old campaign and entered from an over seven-month layoff dating to a neck second in an optional claimer over course and distance in April. Just Beat the Odds, despite the respite and step up in class, went off as the 7-5 post-time favorite and showed why with his eighth consecutive top-two finish.
“The gelding has been a huge part of it. He’s had some nagging little setbacks and he’s just a super talented horse. I’d like to string some races together with him now,” Sacco said, crediting his son and assistant Will for preparing Just Beat the Odds in New York. “Will and our staff here in New York did a great job; Bruce Jackson did a great job at Fair Hill with his rehab – he’s a really fun horse and we’re very happy to have him in the barn.”
Piloted by Manny Franco, Just Beat the Odds was a bit fractious in the gate, yet emerged well from post 4, quickly overtaking the sharp-starting Acoustic Ave to his inside. Acoustic Ave was taken back a touch by jockey Jose Lezcano early as Just Beat the Odds cleared, but still only trailed Just Beat the Odds by a head as he set an opening quarter-mile of 22.46 seconds over the fast main track.
“He was ready from the layoff. Gregg had him really tight. That was my plan – I wanted to be on the lead with this horse and I put him there,” said Franco, who was aboard two starts back for a pacesetting 6 1/2-furlong optional claiming win here that earned a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure.
Lezcano had Acoustic Ave positioned to the outside of Just Beat the Odds approaching the turn, dueling with and briefly heading that rival around the bend, but Just Beat the Odds fought back to maintain a head advantage as the half-mile elapsed in 45.64.
Just Beat the Odds hugged the rail and edged clear of Acoustic Ave when straightened for home to hold a half-length lead at the stretch call. St. Jude chased down the center of the course, but there was a lot of ground to make up on the embattled Just Beat the Odds and hard-trying Acoustic Ave on the front end.
Just Beat the Odds, under a drive in the final sixteenth, held sway en route to a 2 3/4-length victory over Acoustic Ave in a final time of 1:09.99. It was one length back to St. Jude in third, with El Grande O completing the superfecta. Full Moon Madness rounded out the order of finish. Subrogate was scratched.
“He’s a lot more mature, [a] more serious horse. I think he’s a nice sprinter horse and I’m just happy to be on him and to have the opportunity to win this graded stake with him,” said Franco, who won his second race on the card.
Just Beat the Odds, out of the winning Medaglia d’Oro mare Bella d’Oro, was bred in Kentucky by Red Oak Stable. Steve Brunetti of Red Oak Stable passed away in April 2024 and Sacco recalled sending out Just Beat the Odds to win an optional claimer earlier that month at Tampa Bay Downs for Red Oak Stable.
“The late Steve Brunetti bred him and it was fitting that he was the last horse that he watched as an owner before he passed away. He called me from the hospital, and it was very touching as he and I were dear friends,” said Sacco. “He [Just Beat the Odds] had the potential early on and, as a gelding, he’s just flourished. Everything has come together. He has many gears, and the good horses have the gears – when they come to you, they have the ability to take off. He’s a cool horse and all the credit goes to my son and the staff in New York.”
Lezcano said the Linda Rice-trained Acoustic Ave was game to earn a placing in his graded debut. Rice also trains El Grande O and both horses were New York-breds taking on open company.
“He gave me a good race. He’s always been running [good] for Linda,” said Lezcano. “The other horse kept running, and that’s a nice horse. He tried hard. A very good trip, the other horse just kept going.”
Just Beat the Odds earned $137,500 in victory while improving his record to 13-5-6-1 and returning $4.94 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with an eight-race card, featuring the Grade 3, $200,000 Comely in Race 7 and the $150,000 Garland of Roses in Race 6. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.
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