St. Elias Stable, Woodford Racing, and breeder Phipps Stable's Pentathlon overtook pacesetter and 9-5 favorite East Avenue in the stretch and surged to the line for a 1 1/2-length win in the Nov. 1 $200,000 Forty Niner Stakes (G3), a one-turn mile for 3-year-olds and up, at Belmont Park.
Pentathlon won for the fourth time in seven starts this year for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and for the second straight race following a 3-length score going 1 1/16 miles in an optional-claiming race last month at Belmont.
The 5-year-old son of Speightstown cut back slightly in distance but again found a comfort going one turn at Belmont, tracking in third position under jockey Paco Lopez as East Avenue led the eight-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in :23.24 and the half in :45.89 over the fast track.
Out of the turn, Pentathlon, who was three-wide, capitalized on open running room when straightened for home and overtook the pacesetter. Under Lopez's right-handed encouragement, Pentathlon finished strong to the wire, completing the course in 1:33.86.
East Avenue, ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Brendan Walsh, ran second, ahead of Crazy Mason.
Off as the 2-1 second choice, Pentathlon returned $6.28 on a $2 win bet. He increased his career bankroll to $571,782.
McGaughey said Pentathlon has improved following a freshening from an off-the-board effort in the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash on June 27 at Laurel Park.
"I was pleased with that," McGaughey said. "His last two races have been pretty bang-up. I can never understand his race at Laurel before, but he seems to like the fall of the year. He's trained well. Paco seems to fit him well and we are happy with this result."
Video: Forty Niner S. (G3)
Paradise Valley Best in Bold Ruler
Paradise Valley held off Commuted's late run to secure trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci his first graded win in Sunday's $200,000 Bold Ruler (G3), a 6-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, at Belmont Park.
Paradise Valley, owned by Kantarmaci, Zilla Racing Stables, Steven Forst, America's Pastime Stables, Five Horsemen Stables, and Rounds Racing, was haltered for $55,000 out of a win going 7 furlongs in May at Belmont at the Big A. The 6-year-old Lookin At Lucky gelding was making his third career stakes attempt following a claiming victory sprinting 6 furlongs under returning rider Samuel Marin Oct. 10.
Kantarmaci previously assisted his father Tuncay, a successful trainer in Turkey, and his brother Mertkan in the United States, and had previously garnered graded stakes success while working with them.
"I've won graded races before with my dad and with my brother, but this is good—so emotional," Kantarmaci said.
Paradise Valley broke alertly from post 2 and settled into a ground-saving fifth position as stablemate Stickupwithoutagun showed the way through an opening quarter-mile in :22.69 over the fast dirt.
"I was very comfortable," Marin said. "I knew there was some speed. My horse is pretty fast, too, but he doesn't have to have it (the lead). There was speed enough for me not to chase them, and it worked out perfect."
The Flavien Prat-piloted Commuted lacked early speed and trailed the tightly packed field heading into the turn. Buccherino and Subrogate pressured Stickupwithoutagun through the half-mile in :45.41, and Marin tipped Paradise Valley out for his run once they straightened for home.
"He's the type of horse, you can't give up on him or he'll feel it and won't try," said Marin. "Last time I rode him, he won, and I noticed it there. Coming back in this race, I was prepared to ride him like I rode him last time."
Inside the eighth pole, Paradise Valley passed Subrogate and Buccherino, but Commuted was rapidly gaining ground from the back. The favored Commuted drew alongside the 13-1 Paradise Valley, but the gray kept his head in front in a final time of 1:09.16.
It was 1 1/2 lengths back to Buccherino in third, with Subrogate completing the superfecta.
"Samuel won last time with him, and he knows the horse. He gave everything for us today, I'm so happy," said Kantarmaci, who supplemented Paradise Valley to the field. "He was doing so good. I thought maybe I would take my chance because he had nowhere else to run. He was getting better and better, it was a good distance for him, so I spoke with my partners, and they were good."
The Dec. 6 $250,000 Elite Power (G3) could be a potential next spot for Paradise Valley.
"We'll see how he comes out of this race and go from there. I've not circled anything so far," Kantarmaci said.
Prat said the Linda Rice-trained Commuted rallied well from last early, but was held off by a game Paradise Valley.
"I thought I had a good trip. I thought we were going to go by but couldn't do it," said Prat.
Paradise Valley banked $110,000 in victory while improving his record to 10-9-5 from 34 starts and returning $29.64 for a $2 win bet. Bred in Kentucky by EICO Ventures, Paradise Valley is out of the stakes-winning Red Giant mare Puddifoot.
