Cadenza stays undefeated on turf with Take the A Train victory
Stonestreet Stables’ Cadenza didn’t need to ride the rail to capture Saturday’s $150,000 Take the A Train, but instead overtook pacesetter Alpenglow from the outside in the stretch and fended off Kingsolver’s push to secure a half-length score in the six-furlong outer turf sprint for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont at the Big A.
Cadenza, trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, returned to turf racing and improved to 2-for-2 on the surface after graduating at second asking in August at Saratoga Race Course. Since December, the Charlatan filly had raced exclusively over Turfway Park’s synthetic surface, winning an optional-claimer in February and finishing second in the Serena’s Song last out on March 28.
Off as the 3-2 favorite, Cadenza broke sharp from post 6 under jockey Manny Franco and tracked Alpenglow, who was bumped at the break but rushed up to lead the eight-horse field through the opening quarter mile in 22.52 seconds and the half-mile in 45.01 over the firm footing.
When straightened for home, Cadenza had plenty in reserve and took command just before the five-eighths mark. Kingsolver, under jockey Flavien Prat, made a late outside bid, but Cadenza pressed on to hit the wire in 1:08.76.
Kingsolver, trained by Rodolphe Brisset, bested Emblaze by one length for second. Alpenglow finished fourth, with Just Philtored, One More Guitar, Pillar of Beauty and Sweet Montreal completing the order of finish.
Cadenza, a $385,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, paid $5.10 on a $2 win wager. She improved her career earnings to $236,487 via a 6-3-1-1 record.
“It was a good head's up ride from Manny. He was able to settle her, and she kicked on when he asked,” said Dustin Dugas, assistant to Cox. “She's only been here for two days, but she seems like a very straightforward filly to deal with in the mornings. She has a good mind on her and that takes her a long way.
"Clearly, she likes the turf - she broke her maiden on it,” Dugas added. “She's a very honest little filly and the race set up for her.”
Franco, picking up Cadenza’s mount for the first time, said the filly had enough in reserve to thwart Kingsolver in the end.
“I had a good trip. I sat behind the speed. I was happy to have horse under me the whole way around,” Franco said. “By the five-sixteenths pole, I felt like he [Prat, aboard Kingsolver] was there with horse. He was right next to me on the inside. I had to move a little early to make it difficult, to close a gap a little bit. Then, he went around. I did that, which probably cost me a little bit at the end, but I had enough horse to get it done."
Kingsolver, adding blinkers, made a strong account of herself in her turf debut, which followed her first six starts on the main track that included a victory in the Listed Schuylerville last summer at Saratoga.
“I had a good trip. I had to wait,” Prat said. “I got out in the clear late, but I thought she'd be good enough to go by that horse. She ran a good race. I thought she was going to give me a good run once out in the clear. She stayed a bit even."
Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
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