Caixa Eletronica Upsets Westchester; Velasquez Wins Four | ||||
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Caixa Eletronica took advantage of sizzling early fractions as he rallied from just off the pace and onto a three-length victory over Convocation in a 10-1 upset of Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Westchester, the opening weekend feature at Belmont Park. “I had a good trip,” said Velasquez, who later won Belmont’s 10th race to post four winners for the afternoon. “When I asked him, I had a lot of horse.” Schoolyard Dreams was up to edge Haynesfield by a neck for third, with Christmas for Liam finishing fifth. Soaring Empire was scratched. “We just had an awful set-up,” said Ramon Dominguez, aboard the beaten favorite, who was making his first start of 2011. “I was doing everything under my full power when I realized I couldn’t match strides with the horse on the outside [Christmas for Liam]. I wasn’t able to get him back as he was too fresh.” Caixa Eletronica, making his first start for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole after having been claimed for $62,500 on March 9, returned $22 for a $2 win bet to his backers in the crowd of 6,766 as he earned his first career stakes win. Overall, Caixa Eletronica is 13-7-7 from 41 starts, with earnings of $321,705. “Obviously after today Caixa looks like a great claim,” said Repole, who was on his way to Kentucky to watch his Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty prepare for the May 7 Kentucky Derby. “It’s just another example of the great work Todd Pletcher and his assistant trainers do. I’m glad I taught him how to fill out a claim slip. It’s great winning a graded stake on the last Saturday of April. My goal is to win a graded stake on the first Saturday in May.” Next up for Caixa Eletronica will likely be Belmont Park’s Grade 1, $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap on May 30. “You would have to consider it,” said Jonathan Thomas, Pletcher’s assistant. “He’s a real generous horse and it seems like you can do whatever you need to do with him. Cornelio gave him a great ride.” Velasquez, who won the riding title at the recently concluded Aqueduct spring meet, also won the second and third races with Gentle Edwin ($14.80) and J C’s Queen ($11.40) before concluding the card with a victory aboard Nutmegcuveeroyale ($12.80).
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