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Chateau Goes Gate To Wire In Gravesend

With the scratch of Grade 3 Bold Ruler winner Wondrwherecraigis, five horses remained to contest the six-furlong Gravesend, but it turned out to be a one-horse race in the end. From the break to the finish line, it was all Chateau, who took the lead a few strides out of the gate and never relinquished it, getting his first win since March's Grade 3 Tom Fool.

In his last start in the Fall Highweight, Chateau took the lead at the start, but faded to third under the race's heaviest impost of 131 pounds. Sunday, carrying 126 pounds, the 6-year-old gelding was able to run as he pleased, jockey Kendrick Carmouche putting him on the front and striding out to a 1 1/2 length lead early with Jaxon Traveler stalking. Around the race's only turn, Chateau maintained his lead, with Jaxon Traveler pressing on his outside.

Into the stretch, jockey Jose Lezcano put Jaxon Traveler to a drive, but the 3-year-old Maryland bred could not catch Chateau, who was running comfortably on the lead. At the wire, Chateau was 3 1/2 lengths in front, with Jaxon Traveler able to hold off a driving Drafted for second. Majestic Dunhill, who reared at the start and was never in contention, finished fourth and Wendell Fong completed the order of finish.

The final time for the six furlongs was 1:11.26. Find this race's chart here.

Chateau paid $5.20, $2.90, and $2.10. Jaxon Traveler paid $3.00 and $2.10. Drafted paid $2.10.

“I think the scratch [of No. 5, Wondrwherecraigis] was a factor, but I'm very happy with the way Chateau ran. He showed his speed and finished up really nice today,” trainer Rob Atras said after the race.

“When the track is favoring his type of go, he loves it. Today, I just knew I had to break, stay outside and let him run his race. He dragged me around there. He kept fighting. Every time he heard the other horse coming, he wanted a little bit more,” jockey Kendrick Carmouche told the NYRA Press Office after the Gravesend.

Bred in Kentucky by Preston Stables LLC, Chateau is by Flat Out of the With Distinction mare Distinct Sparkle. He is owned by Michael Dubb. Consigned by Four Star Sales, the 6-year-old gelding was purchased by Wayne W. Rice for $5,500 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Yearling Sale. With his win in the Gravesend, Chateau has three wins in eight starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of eight wins in 39 starts and career earnings of $615,019.

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Donk Eyes Longer Distances For Geno After NYSSS Great White Way Win

Mendham Racing Stable's New York homebred Geno made a successful dirt debut in Saturday's seven-furlong $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way for eligible state-sired juveniles at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Trainer David Donk said Geno will eye a return to state-bred stakes company in the $100,000 Gander on February 12 at the Big A.

“He cooled out really well, it was a pretty easy race on him,” Donk said. “He'll stick around. If he was just a grass horse, I would have turned him out for a bit.”

The Big Brown bay made a winning debut in September at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., against fellow New York-breds, followed by two starts against open stakes company, including a close second in the November 5 Awad.

Donk said he would like to see Geno stretch out in distance in the one-mile Gander.

“I'm not going to shorten him up. I'd rather go longer than shorter,” Donk said. “He'll get a little spacing and we'll go from there. We'll see how he runs there, I could always come back on the dirt or back to the grass in April. It will give me a lot of options.

“I debated first time out whether I should run him on dirt or turf,” Donk added. “He's a very good workhorse and he breezed very well on dirt going into this race. It was a big effort.”

Donk trained Geno's dam Weekend Hottie, a Sun King mare, through her last eight of 27 career starts, all of which were on grass.

“She was an average mare, but this is a pretty good-looking horse. He's big and scopey,” Donk said.

Bred in New York by Pete Martine [Mendham Racing Stable], Geno brought his lifetime earnings up to $337,250 following Saturday's winning effort, which garnered a 61 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Donk said Joseph Bucci's Shesawildjoker, winner of the Shesastonecoldfox at Finger Lakes Race Track in Farmington, N.Y., two starts back, will target the $100,000 Franklin Square on January 15 for 3-year-old New York bred fillies going 6 ½ furlongs. The daughter of first-crop sire Practical Joke was a last-out third in the November 21 Key Cents at the Big A.

Donk said five-time winning turf sprinter Big Package, also a New York bred by Big Brown, is currently turned out at Dr. Patty Hogan's Hogan Equine in central New Jersey.

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Luna Belle Gets Perfect Trip To Win Maryland Juvenile Fillies Championship

At Laurel Park in Laurel, Md., Luna Belle, who found trouble in the Maryland Million Lassie and Smart Halo Stakes, got a perfect trip under jockey Denis Araujo to win the $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Fillies Championship by 2 ¾ lengths over Jester Calls Nojoy. Sweet Gracie was third.

Owned by Deborah Greene and Hamilton Smith and trained by Smith, Luna Belle, a daughter of Great Notion, covered the seven furlongs in 1:25.31.

After breaking her maiden at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., in August, Luna Belle was steadied in the Maryland Million Lassie and was wide in the Smart Halo. She had no such issues Saturday. The Elkstone Group LLC's heavily favored Jester Calls Nojoy took the lead shortly after the start and breezed an opening quarter in :23.81 and a half in :48.05 under jockey Jevian Toledo. But Araujo moved Luna Belle toward the leader around the final turn and drove to the outside of Jester Calls Nojoy down the stretch before taking a clear lead inside the final eighth.

“She had two races there where she had a little bit of trouble,” Smith said. “I think we ran the best horse in the Maryland [Million Lassie], but she ran into trouble and got beat. But that's part of racing. Everything went her way today and she showed what she's worth. She's a real smart filly. I thought she was third good and I think the further she goes, the better she'll be.

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Joe Goes Wide, Drives Down Stretch To Take Maryland Juvenile

The Elkstone Group LLC's homebred Joe, a 2-year-old son of Declaration of War, drove to the front down the stretch under jockey Victor Carrasco to win Saturday's $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

After making his debut on turf Oct. 24, Joe broke his maiden Nov. 21 at a mile on the main track at Laurel by 3 ½ lengths. Carrasco, who has ridden Joe in each of his starts and works the horse, got the seven furlongs in 1:25.63.

“We knew we was a really talented horse,” Carrasco said. “The first time Mike decided to run him on the turf because he was bred for the turf. I said, 'Mike, I think he's better on the turf,' and he's showed – he's two for two on the dirt – he's pretty good.”

Breaking from the No. 12 post, Joe was four wide down the backstretch while a group including Royal Spy, Coastal Mission, Local Motive, and Mr. Mox set an opening quarter in :23.09 and a half in :47.26. Five wide entering the stretch, Joe drove past Alottahope and Local Motive inside the eighth pole and to the finish line.

“After I turned for home and got him in the clear I started getting after him and he moved on,” Carrasco said.

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