Barry K. Schwartz homebred LA FUERZA built on a 7 3/4-length debut success over 5 1/2 furlongs of the Belmont main track June 22 with another facile victory in Saturday's state-bred restricted Rockville Center S. in Elmont. Favored at 45 cents on the dollar to take this next step, La Fuerza was off far better than he was in his bow and took up a spot from fourth behind a trio of front-runners. Idling a bit on the turn, he felt a crack of Manny Franco's whip nearing the stretch, switched out and around first-time starter Red Zinger (Will Take Charge) at the top of the lane and kicked it in from the eighth pole to score by a handy four lengths. Bustin Mach Four (Bustin Stones) outfinished Red Zinger for second. The 46th black-type winner for his Claiborne-based sire, La Fuerza is out of a half-sister to SW & GISP Pinch Pie (Victory Gallop) and hails from the family of GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Volponi (Cryptoclearance). La Fuerza is kin to a colt foal of this year by Mizzen Mast.
“I thought he broke well,” said Byron Hughes, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. “There was a little more speed in the race than we expected. They kind of went ahead of him and he was down there on the inside on the rail. Manny did a good job being patient and when the outside opened up, he veered him there and he kicked on in the stretch. It was a good race for him. Coming into today, we were hoping he would break a little better. He broke a little slow and got pinched his first start and it turned out to be okay. In similar fashion, here he ended up getting behind horses but handled taking the dirt well and was able to get up.”
ROCKVILLE CENTRE S., $98,000, Belmont, 7-14, (S), 2yo, 6f, 1:12.27, ft.
1–LA FUERZA, 122, c, 2, by Flatter
1st Dam: Jonata, by Proud Citizen
2nd Dam: Romp and Stomp, by Olympio
3rd Dam: Prom Knight, by Sir Harry Lewis
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Barry K. Schwartz; B-Stonewall Farm (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Manuel Franco. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $97,200.
2–Bustin Mach Four, 118, c, 2, Bustin Stones–Pamafication, by Distorted Humor. O-SJB Stable, Marrone, John M. and Micozzi, Marcello; B-Stephen J. Barberino, Jr. Accumulation Trust (NY); T-Michelle Nevin. $20,000.
3–Red Zinger, 118, c, 2, Will Take Charge–Stowe White, by Not For Love. ($170,000 Ylg '17 SARAUG). O-Harold Lerner LLC and Nehoc Stables; B-Joanne T. Nielsen (NY); T-Gary C. Contessa. $10,000. [bullet ad=”summerfieldsales-sold”][bullet ad=”summerfield-hip622atsaraug2018″][bullet ad=”webb-carroll-another-wctc-grad”]Margins: 4HF, 1HF, 6 3/4. Odds: 0.45, 6.40, 14.70.
Also Ran: Hushion, What the Luck.
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