Nearly eight months of racing inactivity proved no obstacle for Just Beat the Odds, who fired fresh to defeat Acoustic Ave and three other rivals in the $242,500 Elite Power Stakes (G3) Dec. 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Though initially outsprinted out of the starting gate by Acoustic Ave, Just Beat the Odds quickly caught up and took charge down the backstretch of the 6-furlong race in :22.46 for the opening quarter-mile. But Acoustic Ave gave him no breather once the sprinters hit the turn, and the two raced as a pair through a half-mile in :45.64. Once in the stretch, however, the Gregg Sacco-trained Just Beat the Odds asserted his superiority, drawing clear under right-handed urging from Manny Franco to score by 2 3/4 lengths.
"He was ready from the layoff. Gregg had him really tight," said Franco, who won the Elite Power Stakes for the second time after first striking with Joking in 2016.
Just Beat the Odds, a dark bay or brown Munnings 5-year-old gelding, sped 6 furlongs in 1:09.99. He paid $4.94 to win as the favorite, with the public anticipating he would fire off the layoff, just as he had in romping by 6 lengths in a March comeback race at Aqueduct after an even longer break. Franco was aboard for both of these victories, and also a stakes placing aboard the gelding when he was a close second in the Carle Place Stakes at Aqueduct in 2023.
The Elite Power marked his first stakes victory. He is now 5-6-1 in 13 starts with earnings of $345,495. Racing as a gelding in 2025 for current owner Donna Wright, he has two wins and a second in three starts.
Acoustic Ave, who failed to switch leads through the lane, weakened late but held second, a length in front of St. Jude, who showed in an even effort. El Grande O and Full Moon Madness completed the order of finish.
Just Beat the Odds is the first stakes winner from six starters and as many foals from his dam, the Medaglia d'Oro mare Bella d'Oro. Four of his siblings are winners.
Stephen Brunetti's Red Oak Stable bred Just Beat the Odds in Kentucky. The sprinter initially raced for Red Oak Stable before Brunetti's death in April 2024.
Sacco said Just Beat the Odds "was the last horse that (Brunetti) watched as an owner before he passed away. He called me from the hospital, and it was very touching as he and I were dear friends."
Munnings, who entered Saturday as the 11th-leading sire in North America, will stand the upcoming breeding season for $45,000 at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
New York Stallion Stakes Series Results
In later racing action, Braverthanubelieve defeated Hot Currency and Daniella Marie in the $500,000 Fifth Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series for 2-year-old fillies.
The John Ortiz-trained dark bay or brown daughter of Honest Mischief ran 7 furlongs under Joel Rosario in 1:23.92. The Tristar Farm-owned filly, now unbeaten in two starts, paid $18.18 to win.
