EX EX EX HOLDS ON IN CAB CALLOWAY
Longshot holds off Amazing Anne in Monday’s New York Stallion Series Cab Calloway Division
SARATOGA SPRINGS » With a 4 1/2-length lead at the eighth pole, after getting away with setting glacial fractions over the first three- quarters of the one-mile race, longshot Ex Ex Ex looked to be home free in Monday’s New York Stallion Series Cab Calloway Division. Only Amazing Anne, the only filly in the seven- horse field, was coming after him, and she still had a lot of ground to make up.
Amazing Anne didn’t quite get there, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Ex Ex Ex, despite laying down a blistering 22.63 final quarter-mile, just held on to take the $100,000 feature by a half-length. Amazing Anne ran her last quarter in under 22 seconds.
“He’s a very fast horse. Anytime you have speed you’re dangerous, and his speed on turf is very dangerous,” winning trainer Gary Contessa said of Ex Ex Ex, who was making only his second start on turf. “When he went into the first turn, and everyone behind him was checking and bolting and everything, I said, ‘Boy, this is a beautiful thing.’”
The action on the first turn cost 7-5 favorite Payment Terms serious ground, and he was never to reach contention in the race. Ex Ex Ex coasted on an easy lead through a half in a pokey 50.18 seconds and threequarters in 1:14.32. He lengthened his advantage to three on the turn and to 4-5 lengths at the top of the stretch. As it turned out, he would need nearly every bit of it in holding off Amazing Annie.
“I got a very good trip,” said winning rider Jose Lezcano. “He broke on the lead and was there the whole way. When I asked him at the quarter-pole he was gone, and won the race easily. He’s the kind of horse that needs the lead.”
The winner covered the distance in 1:36.95 over firm ground. Memories of Peter finished 3 1/4lengths behind Amazing Anne in third. Payment Terms, Mark My Style, Secured Position and Possessed also ran.
With the win, Ex Ex Ex is now 2-for-2 on turf and 0-for-5 on dirt. The $60,000 winner’s share increased his bankroll to $109,743. The 3-year- old son of Read the Footnotes races for Mark Valentine.
Ex Ex Ex was bred in New York by Sequel Thoroughbreds, A. Lakin & Sons and Hidden Lake Farm. He paid $24.00 to win as the 11-1 next-to-last choice in the wagering.