The last time Second In Command was seen under silks in New York, he was beaten 23 lengths by Super Fuse in last November’s Huntington Stakes at the Big A. But that was all forgotten yesterday at Aqueduct, when Second In Command, off at 19-1 in the field of eight 3-year- olds, hustled to the early lead under Jean Luc-Samyn and splashed home first in the $75,000 Best Turn, with Super Fuse 83/4 lengths back in second.
First out of the gate, Second In Command was pressed by 6-5 favorite Alysweep through a first quarter-mile in :22.4 and opened a two-length lead through a half in :46. Relishing the gooey going, he drew off to complete the six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.3 to pay $40, keying a $164.50 exacta. Mustbeinthefrontrow was third, with Alysweep fading to sixth.
“He loved it out there,” Samyn said. “He was very sharp and wanted to go. I wasn’t going to fight him.”
Trained by Linda Rice, Second In Command had raced just once since the Huntington, finishing third in the Jan. 19 Goss Stryker for Maryland-breds at Laurel. His front-running victory in the Best Turn echoed an allowance score last October at the Meadowlands, when he went gate-to-wire in the slop to register a 61/2-length romp.
“It was a big effort,” Rice said. “This horse can rate if he has to, but we told Jean-Luc that if he broke on top to just go to the lead. He really got a nice ride. We’ll seriously look at the Gotham [a mile at Aqueduct March 16] for his next start.”
Alysweep’s jockey, Rich ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Migliore, said, “I think [his losing effort] was a combination of him being uncomfortable on the track and being down inside. I think he could have overcome one thing, but both was just too much.”