Susie Raisher Photo

Duopoly goes gate to wire to win first stakes in Winter Memories

by Brian Bohl

Klaravich Stables’ Duopoly surged to the front and never relinquished the lead, going gate-to-wire while holding off game longshot High Opinion in deep stretch for a three-quarters of a length score in Sunday’s $100,000 Winter Memories for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.

One of two entrants for trainer Chad Brown, Duopoly, who was coming off a fifth-place effort in her stakes debut last out in the Grade 3 Pin Oak Valley View last month at Keeneland, broke sharp from post 5 under Irad Ortiz, Jr., leading the seven-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 24.75 seconds and the half in 50.15 on the inner turf coursed labeled good.

With Vigilantes Way giving close pursuit, Duopoly continued to lead, with three-quarters going in 1:14.52, and continued to pace the field out of the final turn, being kept near the rail when straightening for home. In the stretch, the Animal Kingdom filly responded to her jockey’s urging as Vigilantes Way pressed her from the immediate outside while High Opinion made a valiant charge from the three-path.

High Opinion pulled into second and continued to challenge, but Duopoly completed the 1 1/16-mile course in a final time of 1:44.80 to notch her third win in five career starts.

“She relaxed and went so well,” said Ortiz, Jr., who registered his day’s third win. “She went into the first turn pretty well and when we got to the backside, she started getting out a little bit, but I didn’t panic because I knew she could do it and I knew she would keep going. I just rode her with patience, relaxed and didn’t try to fight her too much. Turning for home, I asked her, and she had plenty left.”   

Off at 5-2, Duopoly returned $7.90 on a $2 win wager. The $160,000 purchase at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale improved her career earnings to $128,034.

“There wasn't too much speed in the race today, so we wanted to take advantage of that,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “We know she's fast, so I let her break out of there and she was comfortable. She did it pretty easy.”

Woodford Racing and Team D Stable’s High Opinion, the longest shot in the field at 25-1, rewarded trainer Tony Dutrow’s decision to elevate her to stakes company following her last-out win on October 10 at Belmont, finishing a half-length in front of Vigilantes Way for second.

“The filly ran very well. I was expecting a big run from her,” said Eric Cancel, the rider aboard High Opinion. “Her last performance was really good. Today, she stepped up in the game and ran very well. I had a nice trip. I tried to follow the winner, and everything worked out well. We didn't win, but I'm very happy with the way that she ran. She's a pretty brave filly. She kept on fighting and never gave up.”

Speaktomeofsummer, Selflessly [also trained by Brown], Crystalle and Faccio Io completed the order of finish. Thankful, entered for the main track only, was scratched.

Live racing resumes on Thursday at the Big A with a 10-race card. First post is 11:50 a.m.