Coglianese Photo

Securitiz wears down field of four to win Seattle Slew

by NYRA Press Office

Centennial Farm's Securitiz captured the $100,000 Seattle Slew by a neck on Saturday at Belmont Park outlasting his three challengers in a race that saw several lead changes over the 1 ⅛ mile race.

After a clean break by all, 4-5 favorite Conquest Windycity took the lead for the first half mile posting fractions of 24.14 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.30 for the half with Doyouknowsomething sitting just a stride off the lead. Shortly after the half mile pole, jockey Manny Franco pulled Securitiz back to fourth, as Doyouknowsomething took over the lead until the stretch, when Backsideofthemoon went to the front. At the three-eighths pole, Securitiz starting making a final run on the outside of his competitors, edging out Backsideofthemoon at the wire in a final time of 1:50.19.

"He broke good, I knew coming in I wanted to let the favorite [No. 3, Conquest Windycity] go easy in front. I tried to put a little pressure on him early, but near the half-mile pole my horse started backing up. I said 'come on' but Jimmy told me before the race he'll give you a good run, relax and come back. He's a game horse, when I asked him again at the three-eighths pole he responded and went on strong to the wire," said Franco. 

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said the race unfolded like he expected it would with a field of only four runners.

"Yeah, jocks don't know what to really do, 'should I go,' 'shouldn't I go,' 'I don't want him to have an easy lead, but then I want to save something for the end,' so that's why the lead switched about 100 times before the end of the stretch. But he wore them down. He is that type. He ran decent in the distance races last year, so he has a lot of stamina."

It was the third win for Securitiz in 17 career starts and his first stakes victory. His career earnings are now $268,476 with the victory.

"Now he is out of his three other than condition, so he is in a tough spot right now. We will probably have to go fishing around for him now," Jerkens said.

Securitiz paid $6.90 on a $2 win bet. Finishing second was Backsideofthemoon, followed by Doyouknowsomething and Conquest Windycity.

Royal Posse and Far From Over were scratched.