ELMONT, N.Y. – K and R Racing Stable and Town Branch Racing’s Two of a Kind now boasts a pair of wins after a game front-running score in Thursday’s $150,000 Tremont, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for juveniles, at Belmont Park.
Trained by Brian Lynch, the Overanalyze bay entered from a sharp gate-to-wire maiden score on May 4 at Churchill Downs under returning rider Luis Saez.
“He’s always been a precocious sort of colt. He’s physically very mature and mentally he’s mature,” Lynch said. “We can’t be anything but happy with these last couple performances, the one at Churchill and the one today.”
Two of a Kind exited post 6 and was hustled to the front by Saez to take command from the fast-starting Putthepastbehind through an opening quarter-mile in 22.40 seconds over the fast main track. The speedy bay led the field of seven down the backstretch with Zelenskyy Strong in close watch to his outside and No Nay Hudson advancing between rivals and into contention through a half-mile in 45.48.
No Nay Hudson loomed large as he angled outside for the stretch run with Putthepastbehind making a bid along the rail, but Two of a Kind continued to find more and powered home a two-length winner in a final time of 1:04.35.
Putthepastbehind stayed on strong to complete the exacta by 1 1/4-lengths over Valenzan Day, who rallied down the center of the track to best No Nay Hudson for show honors by a half-length. Zelenskyy Strong, Bisping and Little J P rounded out the order of finish. Stayhonor Goodside was scratched.
Saez said Two of a Kind was prepared for a battle down the lane.
“When we came to the top of the stretch, he was just waiting for somebody to fight,” Saez said. “When he saw the other horse come on the outside, he gave me another gear. He looks like he’s a really nice horse.
“He relaxed and he’s a very fast horse,” Saez continued. “Last time, he surprised us. He broke so fast and opened five or six lengths. Mr. Lynch was trying to show him how to come from behind, but in the races, he just wants to go. So, we just let him be whatever he wants to be.”
Lynch said Two of a Kind will now point to the six-furlong Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford on July 16 at Saratoga Race Course.
Christopher Swann, co-breeder and racing manager for the winning owners, said the team knew early on the colt was a good one.
“We knew this horse was special,” Swann said. “You always hear that from the beginning, it’s cliché so to speak, but this horse was special.
“In February we had him in Ocala and the guy who breaks my horses down there said, ‘You got a good one, time to send the horse on to Brian. He’s ready.’ So we sent him to Brian early, and I think this might be the earliest Brian has ever run a 2-year-old, recently at least.”
Gerald Brooks and Carl Hess, Jr.’s Putthepastbehind, a maiden winner traveling 4 1/2-furlongs on May 1 at Laurel Park, posted a game runner-up effort under returning rider Jeiron Barbosa.
“My horse got a good trip,” Barbosa said. “We ran into a nice one and were second best.”
Bred in Kentucky by C. W. Swann and Wetherbee Holdings, Two of a Kind banked $82,500 in victory while remaining undefeated. He returned $6.50 for a $2 win ticket.
Live racing resumes Friday at Belmont Park with an 11-race card for Day Two of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival headlined by the Grade 1, $750,000 New York, a 10-furlong inner turf test for older fillies and mares in Race 10.
Also featured are the Grade 2, $300,000 Bed o’ Roses, a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares in Race 3; the Grade 2, $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup at two-miles on turf for older horses in Race 8; the Grade 2, $300,000 True North, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older horses in Race 9; and the Grade 3, $200,000 Intercontinental, a six-furlong turf sprint for older fillies and mares in the Race 11 finale. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.
America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
By Keith McCalmont
Photo Two of a Kind cruises to a win in the Tremont under Luis Saez. (NYRA/Coglianese)
