CHC Inc.’s and WinStar Farm LLC’s Falconet turned in a very strong stretch run to beat Kathleen O. by 2 ¼-lengths in Sunday’s $100,000 Top Flight Inv. at Aqueduct.
The 4-year-old filly started off the year with a victory in the $150,000 Ladies S., also at Aqueduct, on Jan. 1 for her first career stakes win. Her overall mark now stands at 4-4-0 in nine starts, with earnings of $392,340.
From her inside post, Falconet secured a good tracking spot behind Mommasgottarun, who set a moderate half-mile fraction of :48.79. The running order didn’t change until about three furlongs to run, when Falconet and Timeless Journey both passed Mommasgottarun. Those two battled until midstretch, when Falconet pulled away and was comfortably ahead at the wire, with Kathleen O. making a late run for second.
“I thought Jose [Lezcano] did a great job of helping her out of there going into the first turn and sat just behind the speed,” said Byron Hughes, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, said. “He saved ground throughout, tipped her out around the far turn and was able to pull away a little bit at the end. She appears to prefer the two turns. She’s very consistent, but the two turns is something she seems to enjoy more.”
Falconet, who was bred by WinStar, is the first foal to race out Birdatthewire, who won the La Brea S. (G1), Forward Gal S. (G2) and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).
