Stayers' Watch: Coyote Lakes Stakes · 31.01.10

Stayers’ Watch begins its third year of reporting on long-distance Thoroughbred races and the horses that run in them. First up is Aqueduct’s Coyote Lakes Stakes. Named for the three-time winner of the Gallant Fox Handicap, the Coyote Lakes is an overnight stakes run at 1 5/8 miles on the Big A’s inner dirt track.

Prior to the race, it appeared to many that Nite Light was a good bet to turn the tables on Tiger’s Rock, the stablemate who had beaten him in the 2009 running of the Gallant Fox. In the Coyote Lakes Nite Light would benefit from an eight-pound shift in the weights: Tiger’s Rock would concede three pounds, while in the previous race Nite Light had conceded five pounds. Also, Nite Light looked to be much improved over the last month.

Nite Light, after a slight stumble at the start, set the pace while under some pressure from Precursor, with Tiger’s Rock and Giant Chieftan stalking the pace. Precursor began to drop back as the field came around the final turn as Tiger’s Rock moved up to challenge, hooking Nite Light at the top of the stretch and grinding him down to take the race by 3/4 length. Giant Chieftan finished another 1 3/4 lengths back in third, almost 14 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. Ironically, this was the exact order of finish in the Gallant Fox. Time on the fast track: 2:45.07.

If you liked this you might like:

What do you think?

  1. MAYBE some one is getting it and realizing there needs to be stage to test stamina. I ma not holding my breath but this might be a start.

    — Dr. T. Yatcak · Feb 1, 01:13 PM · #

Textile Help