West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey's Carson's Run did not compete in all three legs of the New York Racing Association's series of turf races for 3-year-old males, skipping the first leg of the series, the July 6 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T). But he made his presence felt in the final two races of the series.
He won the Aug. 11 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T), the middle leg, and Oct. 5, took the series finale in rallying from last to capture the $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
CARSON’S RUN gets it done in the Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational with @DavisJockey aboard for trainer @clementstable and owners @westpointtbred & @StevenBouchey! pic.twitter.com/4uXPc3Vw06
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) October 5, 2024
Dylan Davis, who piloted Carson's Run in the Saratoga Derby, was again in the irons Saturday, and the chestnut 3-year-old Cupid colt responded for him just as he did nearly two months earlier. Carson's Run exploded down the stretch of Saturday's 1 3/8-mile turf race to take over in midstretch and maintained a safe advantage to defeat stablemate Deterministic by three-quarters of a length. The latter raced in traffic and came up the fence to grab second.
El Rezeen was a close third.
Christophe Clement trains the top two finishers.
"Both of them progressed through the year. I wasn't sure if they would both stay the mile and three-eighths, but the way they ran there is no issue with the distance," Clement said. "It's going to be a lot of fun next year."
If either of Clement's duo races again in 2024, it will likely come in the Nov. 30 Hollywood Derby (G1T) for 3-year-olds at Del Mar, the trainer said. They could alternatively be freshened and pointed toward races in 2025.
Carson's Run, a grade 1 winner last year at 2, went off favored after finishing second in the Aug. 31 Nashville Derby Invitational (G3T) at Kentucky Downs between the Saratoga Derby and the Jockey Club Derby. He paid $5 to win, with the public making him a prohibitive choice after the scratch of Godolphin's Legend of Time, who had been a close second to Carson's Run in the Saratoga Derby. The winner, bred by Frankfort Park Farm in Kentucky from the Henny Hughes mare Hot N Hectic, was timed in 2:14.22 for the distance on firm turf.
Along with Desert Dawn, Carson's Run is one of two graded stakes winners this year for Cupid, who stood at Atlanta Hall Farm in Maryland for $8,000 this past breeding season.
Video: Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. (G3T)
Senbei Gives Clement A stakes Double
A race later, another chestnut Clement trainee, Senbei, mirrored Carson's Run's closing charge by catching five-time stakes winner Nothing Better by 1 1/4 lengths in the $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T). He raced six furlongs in 1:07.74, returning $10 to win.
Nothing Better, carried wide down the stretch, finished second ahead of Alogon in third.
SENBEI, the 5YO son of @LanesEndFarms stallion Candy Ride, wins the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes under @jockeyfranco for trainer @clementstable. pic.twitter.com/5BTalssHoI
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) October 5, 2024
Manny Franco rode Senbei, who improved to 2-for-2 over the Aqueduct turf course after taking an allowance optional claiming race at the New York oval in July, also over six furlongs. Most recently, he had been third in the Aug. 17 Select Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on grass at Monmouth Park, a head behind Nothing Better in the that race.
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Darlene Bilinski own the 5-year-old gelding. Bred in New York by Dr. Jerry Bilinski, he is by Candy Ride , sire of fellow 2024 graded stakes winners Hit Show and Most Wanted. Candy Ride stood in 2024 for $75,000 at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky.
