Integration returned to the scene of his last graded stakes win and remained perfect over the Aqueduct turf course when rallying from far back to register a two-length victory over stablemate Limited Liability in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Red Smith. Both Integration and Limited Liability are trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey.
The two-time Grade 1-placed Integration, who rallied to an easy and very popular five-length win in last year's Grade 2 Hill Prince at Aqueduct, shortened up in distance on Saturday after a fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 2 Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Kentucky Downs in September.
With Flavien Prat aboard for the first time, Integration broke alertly and was first to show in front before being reigned back to midpack, while saving ground for the opening mile. Integration continued to slip along the rail, inching closer into contention nearing the stretch, before easing out and running down Rebel Red and Limited Liability in the final furlong to win going away.
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Rebel Red and Limited Liability ran by early pacesetter City Man as the field passed by the finish line the first time, with Rebel Red ahead most of the way, before Limited Liability finished a nose in front for second. The pair did come together, bumping briefly near midstretch, with a claim of foul lodged by the rider of Rebel Red against Limited Liability. The objection was dismissed by the stewards who ruled both horses were equally responsible for the incident in the stretch run.
Master Piece, winner of the 2023 Red Smith, finished last of nine.
A 4-year-old son of Quality Road, Integration completed the 1 3/8 miles in 2:13.28 over the firm course and paid $4.50.
“It’s the end of the year and he’s [Integration] been in training a good while,” McGaughey said. “He [Flavien Prat] said he was kind of grinding the first part and then the last part he showed him another gear and finished up. So, I was pleased with him.”
Turf Sprint Championship
Alogon and Works for Me surged late, overtaking the pacesetting Jean Valjean in the final yards to finish in a dead heat for first in the $150.000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship.
Alogon was coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint while the New York-bred Works for Me scratched into the race off the also-eligible list to register his first victory outside statebred company in the six-furlong Turf Sprint. The pair finished a head in front of Jean Valjean, who proved game into deep stretch, finally succumbing to the top pair in the shadow of the wire.
Ironically, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was originally named on both horses, choosing Alogon for trainer Ned Allard over Works for Me, with Dylan Davis picking up the mount after the latter drew into the race with the scratch of Grooms All Bizness. The winners completed the distance over a firm course in 1:08.42 seconds. Alogon, the 7-2 second choice in the wagering behind the favored Senbei, paid $5.20. Works for Me went postward at odds of 23-1 and returned $20.40.
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