Red-Hot Flavien Prat guides Cugino (#5) to a narrow victory. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
By Brian Bohl
OZONE PARK, NY – Hall of Fame Sportswriter Red Smith has covered many memorable events and athletes in his distinguished career. Jockey Flavien Prat’s hot streak would probably have been among those whose notable achievements were highlighted by the writer, as Prat piloted Cousin to a thrilling victory by a nose over Common Defense in Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Red Smith on the final day of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
Prat won six races in a row from Races 2 to 7, including an extra stakes score aboard Bishops Bay in the Grade 3 Forty Niner as part of a record day of seven wins. He remained patient as Cugino broke sharply in the 1 3/8-mile infield marathon, riding in second place as Common Defense led the five-horse field through easy splits of 24.31 seconds for a quarter mile, 50.90 for the half, 1:17.01 for three-quarters and 1:41.64 for a mile over brisk riding.
Cugino, the even-money favorite, remained tied with Christopher Elliott-led Common Defense when he headed home. With Common Defense unyielding near the rail, Cugino put his nose down from the outside and hit the wire in 2:17.13, giving Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey his record-extending sixth career Red Smith victory.
Common Defense, trained by Kenny McPeek, put Desvio into second place by two lengths. Fleetfoot and Limited Liability completed the order of completion. Dancin in Da’nile, who was third today at Woodbine in an optional claimer, was scratched.
“I was very happy with my trip,” Prat said. He is [Cugino] was too short, so the distance could have been a question mark [for Cugino] and I thought it would be better if we made it a sprint and that’s what happened. It was a good run.”
Cugino, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig, improved to 3-for-4 this year and won for the second time in a row, building on a one-length win over Red Bank in September at Monmouth Park.
“I’m really happy with how hard he tried,” McGaughey said. “That was the first time we got to stretch him that far. Whether he wants to run that far or not, I don’t know, but he did it today. He’s just a nice horse. He likes being a horse. He wants to be a little tough when you see us saddle up and stuff, but that’s just part of him. We’re happy with this commitment.”
Cugino returned $4.36 on a $2 win bet. The four-year-old Twirling Candy colt improved his career bankroll to $761,410 and is 6-4-0 in 13 career starts.
“I thought it would be easier for him to get up front,” McGaughey said. ‘I said to Prat: ‘If no one else wants the lead, then go, if he breaks well.’ I was surprised that there was another horse up there.”
Prat, who already secured a memorable weekend with victories in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile [Nysos] and Filly and Mare Sprint [Splendora] Yesterday in Del Mar, he shrugged off a cross-country flight and continued to add his name to the New York record books to end the fall meet with aplomb.
“When I came here today I thought I had some good horses, but there have been times when you thought you were going to win a few and you didn’t get anything. The horses ran well and showed up – it’s great,” Prat said.
Common Defense, who was given the dirt stakes before switching to artificial turf this year, has finished in the money in all five of his starts on grass [2-2-1].
“Tough beat – it happens,” Elliott said. “My saddle shifted forward, which didn’t help and my horse wanted to lean forward a bit and lumber, but he ran a good race. He fought back and tried really hard.”
Live racing resumes Thursday on the opening day of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack with a nine-race card, featuring the rescheduled Listed $150,000 Tempted in Race 2 and the Listed $150,000 Chelsey Flower in Race 6. The first post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern. The 27-day Aqueduct autumn meeting runs from November 6 to Wednesday December 31.
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