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​Ninetyprcentmaddie takes off-the-turf running of $125K Carle Place

by Mary Eddy

LC Racing’s Pennsylvania homebred Ninetyprcentmaddie rallied widest of all to take Sunday’s off-the-turf running of the $125,000 Carle Place, a six-furlong sprint for sophomores originally carded for the outer turf, at Belmont at the Big A. 

Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., Ninetyprcentmaddie rebounded from an even fourth-place effort in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob in September at Parx Racing to earn his third career stakes victory and first since taking the one-mile and 70-yard City of Brotherly Love in March at Parx. 

“I think he’s kind of a middle distance horse. He certainly did fine going long, too,” Reid, Jr. said of the bay gelding who was a close second in the nine-furlong Federico Tesio this spring. “We had some big plans for him early in the year and they kind of got derailed. He had a little bit of foot issues – he has that one white foot, but lately we’ve had the blacksmith working on him and he’s done a great job. He really came into this race feeling great.”

Piloted by Irad Ortiz, Jr., the son of Weigelia emerged from the outermost post 4 and trailed in last as the Jose Ortiz-piloted Sir Lancelot broke sharpest and raced a half-length ahead of post-time favorite Super Chow through an opening quarter-mile in 22.39 seconds over the fast footing. 

Approaching the turn, Super Chow was roused by Madison Olver and took command as Just Beat the Odds was angled around the pacesetters by Manny Franco. Super Chow clung to a precarious lead at the top of the lane as Ortiz, Jr. shook his reins and Ninetyprcentmaddie responded with a strong turn of foot down the center of the course to loom large after a half-mile in 45.75. 

Just Beat the Odds came to even terms with Super Chow between rivals at the sixteenth pole and put his head in front after five-eighths in 57.91, but Ninetyprcentmaddie had superior momentum and got the better of his foe at the wire to post the neck victory in a final time of 1:10.18. The Gregg Sacco-trained Just Beat the Odds held place honors by 1 1/4 lengths over a game Super Chow with Sir Lancelot completing the order of finish. 

Acoustic Ave, Gaslight Dancer, Son of a Birch, Souzak, Listentothemusic, Freedom Road, Bal a Kazoo, Vacation Dance and Tappin Josie were scratched.  

Reid, Jr. said an outside post was key for Ninetyprcentmaddie, who had drawn posts 1-of-9 and 3-of-8 in his last two starts, respectively. 

“I could see when Irad started revving him up outside the quarter-pole, I thought he had a real good chance,” said Reid, Jr. “The other thing is, he’d drawn inside his last couple of starts and he finally drew an outside post where he feels much more comfortable when he’s a little freewheeling. He sometimes has trouble switching leads and Irad did a great job and got him to swap over and he finished well because of it.”

Ortiz, Jr., aboard Ninetyprcentmaddie for the first time in the afternoon, said he did not want his mount too far behind in a compact field. 

“I was riding the whole time. I tried to pick it up and there were only three horses to beat, so I tried not to give him too much to do,” said Ortiz, Jr. “Before the quarter pole, I already started riding and he started picking it up. I got close to Gregg Sacco’s horse without hitting my horse one time, so I knew I had a chance. The other two horses were coming back and I had just one other horse to beat, so I was patient and when I asked him he was there for me.”

Franco said Just Beat the Odds, who entered off more than two months’ rest, gave an admirable effort. 

“My horse ran a winning race, we just got caught late. I had a great trip,” said Franco. “The two horses were battling for the lead and I just sat off. I was running with the horse behind me [Ninetyprcentmaddie]. I made my move when I felt it was the right time, we were just second best.”

Ninetyprcentmaddie banked $68,750 in victory and boosted his total purse earnings to $347,580 through a lifetime record of 12-4-2-2. He returned $5.70 for a $2 win ticket. 

Live racing resumes Thursday at Belmont at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern. 

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of Belmont at the Big A 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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