Map of the Moon rallies to win $150K Stewart Manor
NBS Stable’s Map of the Moon showed an impressive turn-of-foot under Axel Concepcion to win Friday’s $150,000 Stewart Manor, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for juvenile fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Kelsey Danner, the Liam’s Map dark bay entered from a closing debut graduation by a neck under Concepcion sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on October 11 at Keeneland. Map of the Moon stepped up in class and employed the same tactics to secure her first stakes win in just her second career start.
“She had a hot pace to run into, but she closed really well,” Danner said. “She was very professional again. She sat in a perfect spot – no complaints.”
Map of the Moon broke alertly from post 2 and settled into seventh position behind the pace set by Beach Heist, who marked the opening quarter-mile in 21.25 seconds over the firm turf with a host of rivals sitting close.
Beach Heist was pressured heavily in the turn by the Ricardo Santana Jr-piloted Believe in Magic, with Should’ve in behind and Map of the Moon still well off-the-pace through a sharp half-mile in 43.46. Beach Heist and Believe in Magic locked into a fierce stretch duel when straightened for home, but as the two traded punches, Map of the Moon was tipped out wide and surged down the center of the course.
“I saw in the paper a lot of speed,” Concepcion said. “I didn’t want to take anything away from her – I wanted to break good and see where we’re at. I knew when I put her in the clear, she was going to give me a good run.”
Map of the Moon stormed by the embattled duo in the final strides to win by three-quarter-lengths over Believe in Magic in a final time of 1:08.49.
Beach Heist finished a head back in third, with Hark Theangelssing completing the superfecta. Sweet Montreal, Lit Ship, Velcamp, Should’ve, Catalonia, Yaudacity and Silicium rounded out the order of finish. Zuby, entered in Sunday’s $150,000 Awad here, and Cadenza were scratched.
Danner recently enjoyed local success with John Ballantyne’s NBS Stable as they sent out Ground Support to win the Grade 2 Miss Grillo on October 4 here ahead of a third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar.
“They’re very important to me. John is very easy to deal with and does right by the horse at all times – very patient,” Danner said, adding that she doesn’t have a specific next race in mind for Map of the Moon. “I’m not sure what’s next. She’ll come back to Turfway – there’s some races there and at Gulfstream, we’ll see how she comes out of it. I think she liked that distance today, which is going to be hard to find again.”
Santana, Jr. said the Bill Morey-trained Believe in Magic was game in defeat.
“The turf is really fast today. She ran hard but we were second best today,” Santana, Jr. said.
Bred in Kentucky by Silesia Farm and Dr. Hartmut H Malluche, Map of the Moon, a $200,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, is out of the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Pride, a full-sister to Grade 1-placed New York-bred By the Light, dam of dual Grade 1-winner By the Moon. She banked $82,500 in victory while returning $23.74 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack with a 10-race card, featuring the Listed Dwyer [Race 3], the Listed Pumpkin Pie [Race 4], the Grade 3 Hill Prince [Race 7], the Grade 2 Mother Goose [Race 9] and the Grade 3 Long Island [Race 10]. First post is 11:40 a.m. Eastern.
America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.
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