Susie Raisher Photo

Bergen much the best in Jimmy Winkfield

by Keith McCalmont

Trainer Brad Cox won his fourth stakes of the year at Aqueduct Racetrack, sending out the Manny Franco-piloted Bergen to a rallying score in Saturday’s $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield, a six-furlong sprint for sophomores.

Spendthrift Farm, Martin Schwartz, Gandharvi, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, James Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, Golconda Stable, Ali Goodrich and Mark Parkinson’s Bergen added to previous Big A success this month for Cox with Drum Roll Please in the Jerome, Gin Gin in the Busanda and Comparative in the Ladies.

El Divino Nino broke alertly from the inside post under Tais Lyapustina to mark the opening quarter-mile in 22.93 seconds over the muddy and sealed strip under pressure from Iridescent as Bergen rated in fourth position to the outside of Stolen Magic and in front of the trailing Air Cav.

The Isaac Castillo-piloted Iridescent put a head in front through the turn as Bergen made a wide move into contention with his stablemate Air Cav following suit through a half-mile in 47.60.

Bergen, in the center of the track, battled to the lead nearing the three-sixteenths to take command from the ground-saving Iridescent and drew clear to a 5 1/4-length score in a final time of 1:12.63. Iridescent held place honors by 6 3/4-lengths over Air Cav with El Divino Nino and Stolen Magic rounding out the order of finish.

Franco said the outermost post 5 proved beneficial.

“I just kept my post as an advantage and broke good, just stayed where we were at in my lane,” Franco said. “By the three-eighths pole, he was just jumping [in] the bit and he started moving forward, and that was it. I had a lot of horse under me.

“I think he can go further,” Franco added. “He galloped out good, so maybe next time he’ll run further.”

Bergen, by Liam’s Map, graduated on debut in October at Keeneland with a wide-rallying score in a six-furlong maiden special weight. He followed last out with a strong runner-up effort to the undefeated dual stakes-winner Who Dey in a one-mile optional-claiming event on November 25 at Churchill Downs.

Dustin Dugas, local assistant for Cox, said the team learned a lot about the aggressive Bergen from a half-mile breeze in 47.90 over the Belmont Park dirt training track on January 12 with Trevor McCarthy up.

"I’m happy with both performances, but Bergen is a really cool horse and he’s a very forward horse in his training and his races. He likes what he does,” Dugas said. “Trevor worked him two breezes back and he came back with some really good feedback, so we used that today.”

Castillo said Iridescent, owned and trained by David Jacobson, performed admirably in his stakes debut.

“They do a really good job with this horse and had him ready,” Castillo said. “He was trying and he had a really good race today. He did his best.”

A $375,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Bergen, a half-brother to Grade 1-winner Chi Town Lady, is out of the stakes-placed Harlan’s Holiday mare Toni’s Hollyday.

Bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons, Kilboy Estate and Gavin Tierney, Bergen banked $55,000 in victory while improving his record to 3-2-1-0. He returned $3.80 for a $2 win bet.

Originally run as the Best Turn, the race was renamed in 2005 to honor jockey James Winkfield, a two-time winner of the Kentucky Derby and the last Black jockey to take home the roses on the First Saturday in May.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct with a 10-race card featuring the $100,000 Say Florida Sandy in Race 4 and the $100,000 Rego Park in Race 9. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.