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Clement sends out Apollo Ten, Split Strike for $120K Atlantic Beach

by Ryan Martin

Maiden winners Apollo Ten and Split Strike will give trainer Christophe Clement strong representation in Saturday’s sixth running of the $120,000 Atlantic Beach for juveniles going six furlongs over the outer turf at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Cheyenne Stables’ Apollo Ten broke his maiden at second asking in his turf debut, going six furlongs on September 22 over the Belmont at the Big A outer turf, defeating returning rival Irish Gent. The effort came following a seventh-place finish over a muddy and sealed main track on August 25 at Saratoga Race Course, which was won by Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile contestant Fierceness and featured two other next-out winners.

Apollo Ten is a half-brother to graded stakes-winning millionaire turf sprinter Bay Storm, whose dam was stakes-winner Stormy Regatta.

Tic Stables’ New York homebred Split Strike enters from a close fourth in the Algonquin on October 8 at Woodbine Racetrack. The son of Goldencents was triumphant in his turf debut, when defeating state-breds going 5 1/2 furlongs on September 4 over firm Mellon turf at Saratoga.

“They’re both training very well,” said Clement. “There’s a small question mark on the ground, but we’ll find out. I’m very happy with the two of them.”

Apollo Ten will leave from post 9 in rein to Manny Franco while Kendrick Carmouche will pilot Split Strike, who will race with blinkers on, from post 5.

Robert and Lawanna Low’s Irish Gent [post 8, Jairo Rendon] will give grass another try after breaking his maiden in a local off-the-turf maiden special weight on October 15 for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. The Irish-bred son of Ten Sovereigns made his first two starts on turf, finishing third on September 1 at Saratoga before his runner-up effort to Apollo Ten.

“He breezed well on the dirt so once his last race came off the turf we went ahead and ran him,” said Pletcher’s Belmont-based assistant Byron Hughes. “He got it done that day, but we think he’s at his best on the turf. He’s doing well and we’re hoping for a great effort.”

Perrine Time Thoroughbreds’ Woke Up Quick [post 6, Jose Gomez] also enters from a maiden score, going gate-to-wire in a local six-furlong turf maiden special weight against state-breds on October 4 for trainer Tom Morley. Bred by Head of Plains, the son of freshman stallion Maximus Mischief had a 1 1/2-length advantage at the stretch call and hung on from a late-rallying Big Prankster to win by a neck. Woke Up Quick made his debut when fourth for the same condition on September 4 at Saratoga.

Carem Stables’ New York-bred Get Spooled [post 1, Isaac Castillo] enters from a pair of graded stakes efforts for Hall of Famer Bill Mott. The Hard Spun bay was a respective fourth and eighth in the Grade 3 With Anticipation at Saratoga and the Grade 2 Pilgrim at Belmont at the Big A after a gate-to-wire maiden triumph on debut. He was bred in the Empire State by Waterville Lake Stable.

Completing the field are first-time starting Dilger [post 2, Dylan Davis] for trainer Horacio De Paz, the Mike Maker-trained Jimmythetooth [post 3, Ruben Silvera], the Joseph Lee-trained Works For Me [post 4, Trevor McCarthy], stakes-placed Please Advise [post 7, Eric Cancel] for trainer George Weaver, and the Robert Werneth-trained Ruddy Buddy [post 10, Mario Fuentes]. Perliano has been entered for main track only.

The Atlantic Beach is carded as Race 6 on Saturday’s 10-race program, which also features the $120,000 Stewart Manor in Race 9. First post is 11:40 a.m. Eastern. 

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