Belmont Winner Sir Winston Performs ‘Above Expectations’ In Friday Allowance

Sir Winston wins an allowance race at Belmont Park on Jan. 31

Making his second start since winning the 2019 Belmont Stakes, Tracy Farmer’s Sir Winston posted a 2 1/4-length victory in a Friday allowance race at Aqueduct. The Mark Casse trainee’s previous start, over the yielding Fair Grounds turf in the listed Woodchopper Stakes on Dec. 28, had resulted in a 12th-place finish.

This time, Sir Winston was seventh early on but came running through the far turn. He drew even with the leader nearing the eighth pole, and finally drew clear in the final sixteenth to complete the mile over a fast track in 1:39.15.

“He ran well,” said jockey Dylan Davis. “I just tried to get him to finish. Mark said the mile might be a little short for him, but he just wanted to see him finish. He broke well and I took a bit of a bridle-hold on him and let him get into a good rhythm. He took himself back a little, but he was in good stride and really waiting for me to get on to him. I had to fight a little to get between some horses, and once he got through, he took off.”

The 4-year-old son of Awesome Again may be pointed to the Bernardini Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 29 for his next start, which Casse has previously stated may set Sir Winston up for a run at the Dubai World Cup in late March.

“I think he exceeded the expectations today,” said Jamie Begg, Casse’s assistant trainer. “When Mark decided to put him in this spot, we just wanted a good effort out of him and for him to show his running style. If we could hit the board and he did it his way, we’d be happy. But this was above expectations, so we are happy.

“They didn’t set a super fast pace early on so it’s not like they collapsed at him, he went and got it.”