Joe Labozzetta Photo

Zanotti upsets Queens County at 38-1

by NYRA Press Office

Do Share grinds out first stakes win in exciting Gravesend

Making his first start since July, in which he finished fourth in an optional claiming race at Parx, Ten Strike Racing's longshot Zanotti, rebounded off the layoff relishing the sloppy and sealed main track to win the $125,000 Queens County for 3-year-olds and up on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Leaving the gate from post 7 at odds of 38-1 with Jorge Vargas, Jr. aboard, Zanotti stalked comfortably in fifth position as Alex the Terror led the field of nine through fractions of 24.33 seconds for the opening quarter-mile with the half in 48.47.

At the quarter-pole, Alex the terror remained in front as Zanotti angled four-wide into the upper stretch. Under a drive, he began passing foes he encountered Alex the Terror at the sixteenth-pole. Engaged in a battle to the wire, Zanotti earned the last bob in front to secure the victory by a neck.

He completed the 1-1/8 mile distance in a final time of 1:51.64.

First of all, I have to give a lot of credit to [trainer] Carlos Guerrero," said Vargas, Jr. "He brought this horse with his A game. He hasn't run since July, that was my main concern, but he was training so good. When I asked him to take a shot, he was all out for me. I thought he was going to be a little sharper [out the gate] then he was, so I just let him flow out there and he just put me in the right spot. Good trip. When I angled he just took off."

Returning $78.50 for a $2 win wager, the 4-year-old Gio Ponti gelding making his 18th career start and earning his first stakes win, boosted his career earnings to $251,904.

Following Alex the Terror in second was Kurilov, Doyouknowsomething, Discreet Lover, Senior Investment, Watershed and Securitiz completing the order of finish.

One race prior, Do Share captured the 59th running of the $100,000 Gravesend by half a length, besting the field of seven competitors with a late run in the middle of the sloppy and sealed track to win the six-furlong sprint in a final time of 1:10.77.

As expected, Green Gratto and Chief Lion moved quickly to the front after the break, with Chief Lion leading the pack through fast fractions of 22.01 for the quarter mile and 45.01 for the half. On the backstretch, Jockey Junior Alvarado stalked post time favorite Threefiveindia, before letting Life in Shambles overtake him for fourth position heading into the turn. Coming into the stretch, Alvarado angled his mount six wide under heavy urging, switching leads late and getting up for the win in the final leaps.

 "He was running fine, but as soon as I passed the half a mile pole he started acting like he didn't want to be on the inside," Alvarado said."  [Trainer] Linda [Rice] said that you can save ground but make sure when you make the move you are outside. I thought it was a little early to move outside but at the three-eighths pole I just took him outside to see what I have because he was not giving me anything.

"As soon as I put him in the six path he start picking it up, and I was just working with him, then he is running hard but he was on the wrong lead, but he was still coming. Then past the eighth pole I was like I have to try and make him switch leads to make sure I get the job done and as soon as he switched leads he gave me that little extra and we got there right on time."

The win was the second of the month for the 4-year-old Candy Ride gelding owned by the Estate of Anthony Miuccio, following a 6 ½ furlong allowance win nine days ago at the Big A.

"I ran him back on short rest because I know he likes a little moisture in the track. I saw the weather forecast and I thought he'd like it," Rice said. "When I ran him last time, he was a little short but he's a nice horse and I thought he deserved an opportunity here. I put him away the summer for several reasons. For one, he had gone through all of his conditions, but he was in need of a break, so I gave him a rest. It was a real quick turnaround this time, but I thought he was up to it."

Do Share paid $10.80 on a $2 win ticket and bumped his career earnings up to $391,204 in 18 races, including eight wins.   

Finishing second was Life in Shambles, followed by Threefiveindia, Great Stuff, Green Gratto, The Truth Or Else and Chief Lion.