Patience and a little muscle paid off Thursday afternoon for the Vinery and Fox Hill Farm, as their Kodiak Kowboy split horses in the lane and drew off to a three-length victory in the 102nd running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Saratoga Special for two-year-olds at six and a half furlongs.

In winning his fourth straight race – he lost his debut at Woodbine on April 29th by three-quarters of a length – the Posse colt took full advantage of jockey Shaun Bridgmohan’s patient ride and then punched when he had to, delivering the victory in 1:15.98 on the fast main track.

Little Nick jumped out to the lead with Riley Tucker pressing and Kodiak Kowboy, who broke from post 1, holding his spot on the rail. The leaders battled through splits of :22.07; :44.97 and 1:09.52, but Kodiak Kowboy stuck to the rail.

Entering the stretch, Bridgmohan’s mount was still inside, but a hole opened as Little Nick tired and came out. In an instant, Kodiak Kowboy powered through the opening and ran to daylight and victory.

“He ran well,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, as Kodiak Kowboy returned $6.80. “The concern today was the inside. He had such a beautiful stalking trip in all three of his victories; (in those races) he was in a three-wide stalking position.

“Today, he overcame a little bit. What I love was that, down in between horses, he was looking for somewhere to go, and when it opened up, he punched through nicely. I think the final time was excellent for a two-year-old.”

(It should be noted here that in the sixth race, a 5 ½-maiden race, the filly Secret Gypsy, won in track record time of 1:03.26, besting Mayakovsky’s six-year-old mark of 1:03.32.)

“It looks like he’ll be able to step out, and we’re hoping to run him in the Belmont Futurity (Grade 2, $250,000, 2yo, seven furlongs, September 15),” Asmussen added.

Bridgmohan believes Kodiak Kowboy will be an even tougher foe in his next start.

“I saw the hole turning for home, and he was willing,” Bridgmohan said. “He did everything I wanted and was very gutsy today. He got a lot out of this race. He was professional in doing it. He broke smartly, and he rated himself a little bit. The horses were going pretty good up front, and he sat in behind them pretty nicely and it opened up right at the top of the stretch. When I pointed him, he was just willing and just shot right through there. Then, he went about his business. It was pretty professional for a two-year-old. I had a comfortable lead, and I knew The Roundhouse would be coming, but I knew I had enough to hang on.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher, whose favored The Roundhouse was second, is also looking to stretch the colt out.

“He’s getting better each time,” Pletcher said. “He was second-best today. Obviously, he needs more distance and we’re looking forward to stretching him out.”

Riley Tucker, Betatro, Little Nick and Make the Point completed the order of finish, while Sargent Seattle was scratched.