Joe Labozzetta Photo

Sunny Ridge finds daylight to win second straight stakes in Stymie

by Brian Bohl

Dennis A. Drazin's Sunny Ridge went five-wide in deep stretch to overtake Doyouknowsomething, Dolphus and Diversify, capturing his second straight stakes in winning the 62nd running of the $125,000 Stymie for 4-year-olds and up on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Jockey Manny Franco kept Sunny Ridge well off Diversify's fractions of 22.98 seconds for a quarter-mile, 47.01 for a half and three-quarters in 1:11.37. Heading into the upper stretch, Franco rallied his charge and gained the lead in the final furlong, besting Doyouknowsomething by three-quarters of a length.

Trained by Jason Servis, the 4-year-old son of Holy Bull completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.19, winning for the first time in five starts at the distance. The gray gelding was victorious for the second straight time and third in five races on the inner track.

"I got a good trip," Franco said. "The assistant told me to try to cover him after the break and wait for the right time to make a move. It worked out well. He loves this track. He handles it well and runs hard every time."

Off at 4-1, Sunny Ridge paid $10.20 on a $2 win wager, increasing his career earnings to $833,002. After making seven straight graded stakes starts - including a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Champagne and a third-place effort in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational - Sunny Ridge has two wins and a third-place finish in his last three races after earning class relief.

Doyouknowsomething posted his best stakes finish with a runner-up effort for trainer A.C. Avila. Send It In, the post-time favorite, came in third for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Dolphus, Admiral Blue, Royal Posse, Diversify, Turco Bravo and Splashtastic completed the order of finish.