NYRA Photo

Matty's Magnum makes her day with Winter Memories win

by Najja Thompson and Brian Bohl

Matty's Magnum patiently stalked the field before surging near the rail in the stretch, outdueling a charging Semper Sententiae's bid from the outside to capture the $150,000 Winter Memories for 3-year-old fillies by a nose Thursday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The last of three stakes on the Thanksgiving card, the third running of the Winter Memories, originally scheduled to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf, was moved to one mile on the main track labeled fast.

Out of the gate, Matty's Magnum, a main-track only entrant and Gold member of the New York Racing Association Starter Loyalty Program, trailed well off the fractions set by Significant Form, who held off a game Got Stormy to lead through early fractions of 24.22 seconds for a quarter-mile, 48.39 for the half and three-quarters in 1:14.14.

The pacesetters maintained their front-running status out of the turn and in the upper stretch drifting out on the track before Matty's Magnum was set down by jockey Manny Franco on the inside. The Even the Score filly responded by outkicking Significant Form and Got Stormy and dug in while Junior Alvarado encouraged Semper Sententiae down the seventh-path.

 Matty's Magnum, off at 7-1, hit the wire just in front of her challenger in a final time of 1:41.97. The David Donk trainee, who made her successful stakes debut in her 13th career start, returned $17.40 on a $2 win wager and earned $88,688 of the purse.

"I've ridden her before, so I'm used to her. I just let her get comfortable and settled early. She always comes running late and she did again today," Franco said. "She tries hard every time and she really put in another good effort. I have to thank the trainer for preparing her to run today. I wasn't sure I had it won at the wire. I knew it was close, but I'm glad we got up and got the win today."

Competitionofideas, Significant Form, Got Stormy, Andina Del Sur, Souper Striking and Romantic Moment completed the order of finish. Bellerue, Kreesie, Capla Temptress and Queen of Connaught were scratched.

Two races prior, Five Star General making only his third career start wired a field of six to win the $100,000 Central Park for juveniles to kick off the day's stakes action.

Initially slated to be run on the outer turf at 1 1/16 miles, the Central Park was taken off the grass and contested at one mile on the main track labeled fast.

Breaking alertly as the 3-2 second-choice with Jose Ortiz aboard, Five Star General quickly established himself in front setting fractions of 24.09 seconds for the opening quarter-mile with the half in 47.89.

At the quarter-pole, Doups Point, who was in fourth position early, began to pass rivals positioning himself second at the top of the stretch. Making a move toward the leader in the final yards, Five Star General was able to dismiss the threat, securing the victory by 1 ¼ lengths at the wire in a final time of 1:41.35.

"He broke really well and put me on the lead," said Ortiz who earned his third victory of the day aboard Five Star General. "He was a little keen the first three-sixteenths of a mile, but then he came back, and I just waited. I appreciate the opportunity from the owners and trainer. Today, he broke good for me and when I asked him to go, he was there for me."

Returning $5.10 for a $2 win wager, the son of Distorted Humor boosted his bankroll to $78,050. Bred by WinStar Farm and owned by WinStar in partnership with China Horse Club International and SF Racing, Five Star General earned his second consecutive win after breaking his maiden last out on a sealed track on October 27 at Laurel Park.

"The question mark was the fast track because he ran very well and very efficiently on the sealed track the last time," said winning trainer Arnaud Delacour. "I wanted to see him run well on the fast track, and he did today. Obviously, it worked out. He has tactical speed and that's probably a weapon of his."

Following Doups Point in second was Market Bubble, Empire of War, Order and Law, and Good Good. Wallace was scratched.