Twilight Time, facing winners for the first time after breaking his maiden by 10 lengths, roared from off the pace to take yesterday’s Grade 2 Cowdin Stakes at Belmont Park by two lengths under Mike Luzzi.
At 12-1, the son of Twilight Agenda was the longest shot on the board. The field for the Cowdin was reduced to four when morning-line favorite Nunzio was scratched because of a fever.
Canadian shipper Precise End broke on top, then looked like a bunny rabbit jumping shadows down the backside as he opened up a daylight lead through a blazing half in :44.3. Even-money favorite Outrigger closed in to take the lead in midstretch, but Twilight Time just blew by in the final sixteenth.
Trained by Linda Rice, Twilight Time ran the 6furlongs in 1:17 to pay $26.40. Sky Dweller was along late to complete an $83 exacta. *It was bombs away in the Astarita Stakes for 2-year-old fillies when Silentlea, another horse who’d only beaten maidens in her brief career, kicked in down the stretch to score by a neck under Robbie Davis, lighting up the board with a $109.50 mutuel.
Am Flippy and Magicalmysterycat were the early leaders, scorching the first quarter in :21.4 and the half in :44.4. Silentlea, well off the pace while saving ground on the turn, swung out in midstretch and finished with gusto, going the 6 furlongs in 1:17.2.
“I couldn’t see her running head to head with those fillies and the plan was to take back,” said trainer Steve Jerkens. “She showed her class and I think she could be something special.”
Another longshot, Valierie’s Dream, made a big late run for second to complete a $739 exacta. Lucky Livi was third. *Middlesex Drive earned a starting berth in the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Gulfstream Park with an impressive 1-length victory in the Grade 2, $150,000 Kelso Handicap at a mile on turf.
Ridden by Shane Sellers, the 4-year-old Pine Bluff colt went to the lead early, opened up through fractions of :23.2 and :46 and coasted home in a final time of 1:35.2. Divide and Conquer rallied for second with Wised Up third.