Boisterous scored an easy victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Red Smith H. at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday, as the son of Distorted Humor wrapped up his season with back-to-back stakes wins.
A repeat winner of last month’s Grade 3 Knickerbocker H. at Belmont Park, Boisterous successfully defended his title in the 53rd edition of the Red Smith. With Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado aboard, Boisterous tracked Bombaguia through tepid fractions of 52.29 seconds for the opening half-mile mile and 1:43.23 for the mile, moved into striking position around the final turn and took command at the head of the stretch before drawing clear to a three-length victory over Lake Drop.
Boisterous completed 1 3/8 miles in 2:19.38 over the yielding turf course.
“The horse ran huge,” said Prado. “He showed up one more time and did it pretty easily.”
The victory was the third in seven 2012 starts for Boisterous, who also won the Grade 3 Fort Marcy H. in May at Belmont, ran second in the Grade 3 Arlington H. and third in the Grade 1 Manhattan H. in June.
“He wasn’t beaten that badly (in the Million), but I think he’s the kind of horse who appreciates the fall weather more than the summer heat,” said Buzzy Tenney, assistant to winning trainer Shug McGaughey. “I believe this will be the last race of the year for him. We’ll take him down to Florida and bring him back in the spring, just like last year.”
Now 9-1-2 from 21 career starts, Boisterous pushed his earnings to $766,390 with the winner’s purse of $120,000.
