Tuesday, June 18, 2013 |
Verrazano rolled home an easy 9 1/4 length winner this past Sunday in the Pegasus S. (G3) at Monmouth Park in what would amount to an excellent rebound race sincesuffering his first career defeat in the Kentucky Derby (G1) last May.
Breaking alertly from the rail, jockey John Velazquez sent Verrazano straight to the lead going into the first turn. With a comfortable 2 1/2 length lead after an easy opening 1/4 mile in :24.82, Verrazano was in great position heading into the backstretch.
Realizing Velazquez and Verrazano were going very easy on the front end, jockey Mike Smith, aborad Preakness S. (G1) runner-up and clear second choice Itsmyluckyday (6), looked to press the pace as they neared the five furlong marker. However, the Itsmyluckyday (6) looked to take an uneven stride and Smith was forced to pull up.
Without Itsmyluckyday (6) there to press the issue, Verrazano steadily built his advantage to 3 1/2 lengths after 3/4 of a mile in 1:12.67.Coming out of the far turn, Velazquez and Verrazano pulled away with ease in the stretch, opening up another five lengths on Reporting Star (1) before crossing the finish line in a snappy 1:41.72.Verrazano ran the final 5/16 of a mile :29.05 while under a hand-ride.
Verrazano has shipped to Saratoga where he'll continue training in preparation for the Haskell Invitational S. (G1) at Monmouth Park on Sunday, July 28th.
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