J and N Stables' homebred Mz Big Bucks made every pole a winning one under Jose Gomez to capture Sunday's co-featured $150,000 Cupecoy's Joy division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a seven-furlong Widener turf sprint for eligible New York-sired sophomore fillies, at Belmont Park.
Trained by Michelle Nevin, the War Dancer bay is a full sister to last year's Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint winner Dancing Buck, who was conditioned by Nevin for the same connections in partnership with Diamond M Stable to make the grade in that six-furlong event held in October at the Belmont at the Big A meet.
“They both broke their maiden on an off track and came back on the grass,” noted Nevin, regarding similarities between the siblings. “She broke so sharp [today] and he [Gomez] looked so comfortable, I was feeling pretty good about it.”
Mz Big Bucks broke alertly from post 10 and engaged in a three-pronged duel for the lead with Maggie T and Little Linzee, eventually taking command to mark the opening quarter-mile in 23.11 seconds over the firm going.
Maggie T and Little Linzee dropped back to stalk Mz Big Bucks down the backstretch as the half-mile elapsed in :46.17 with Stolen Future, the lukewarm 5-2 mutuel favorite, tracking from fourth position. The Katie Davis-piloted Little Linzee loomed large late in the turn, but Mz Big Bucks had plenty in reserve and kicked away to a three-length lead at the stretch call. Little Linzee continued to chase the length of the lane with the late-running Red Moon launching her bid down the center of the course, but there was no reeling in Mz Big Bucks, who posted the two-length score in a final time of 1:21.88.
Little Linzee completed the exacta by three-quarters of a length over Red Moon with Midtown Lights, Joeybignose, Camp Akeela, Bea Bea Kaz, Stolen Future, Les Bon Temps, Dream On Cara and Maggie T rounding out the order of finish.
Gomez, the outstanding apprentice jockey of 2022, said he felt confident dictating terms.
“It seemed like nobody wanted [the lead], so I took it and we led every step,” said Gomez, who notched his second stakes score of the meet. “I kept feeling her running and going. On the grass, there's always closers coming to get you, but I peeked over and didn't see anyone coming so I said, 'Oh yeah, we got it.'”
Mz Big Bucks made her first two starts under Gomez in six-furlong state-bred sprints, finishing fourth in her April debut over the Big A turf in a race won by returning rival Stolen Future and following with a gate-to-wire score over next-out winner Loon Cry here on May 4 in an off-the-turf event conducted over a muddy and sealed main track.
“Last time, she was on the lead as well so I just let her come out of there,” Gomez said. “I knew there was speed in the race, so I just wanted to play the break and she broke like a rocket. I came right down onto the rail and tried to slow her down as much as I could, and she felt like a winner every step of the way.”
The hard-luck Little Linzee was disqualified from a narrow nose victory and placed second behind returning rival Les Bon Temps in the last-out NYSSS Park Avenue on April 23 over the Aqueduct main track.
Davis said Little Linzee, who graduated in her July debut over the Saratoga Race Course turf, relished a return to the green for the first time since an off-the-board effort in the Grade 3 Matron in October at Belmont at the Big A.
“She was coming into this race really fresh with some excitement. Around the barn, she wanted to knock down the walls,” Davis said. “She ran really well and really enjoyed the grass course. I think we have a future with her. She's a great filly.”
Mz Big Bucks, who J and N Stables bred in partnership with Elizabeth Jameson, banked $82,500 in victory while improving her record to 2-0-0 from three career starts. Her dam is the Catienus mare Frivolous Buck.
Mz Big Bucks returned $21 for a $2 win ticket.
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