Light Man flattered Breeders’ Cup Sprint pre-entrant Federal Judge on Sunday with his win in the $150,000 Hudson on the Empire Classic Day card at the Belmont meet at Aqueduct. He proved three-quarters of a length best over Silver Satin, while it was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to Rotknee.
Light Man ($19.20) came into the 6 1/2-furlong Hudson off a third-place finish to Federal Judge in a two-other-than allowance at Saratoga. Federal Judge went on to win the Grade 2 Phoenix at Keeneland in his next start, while Light Man targeted a return to New York-bred company for the Hudson.
Light Man stalked a hot pace in the race for 3-year-olds and up Sunday, with Looms Boldly, Disarmed and Factually Correct leading the way through an opening quarter in 21.96 seconds and Rotknee joining the fray through a half-mile in 44.97. Light Man rallied through the stretch to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:16.64.
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Jockey Kendrick Carmouche was aboard Light Man, who added a set of blinkers Sunday.
“He kind of broke a step slow and they bumped his back end,” Carmouche told the New York Racing Association publicity department. “I let the speed run away from him. First-time blinkers with my horse, I knew he would improve. Once I got him outside, he was ready to run. It was just a matter of time of getting to the wire first."
Bruce Levine trains Light Man for McRich Stables. The son of Central Banker won his first stakes and is now 5 for 8 for earnings of $354,450.
Iroquois
Cara’s Time, who was the 5-2 second choice in the $150,000 Iroquois for fillies and mares, fought off 31-1 shot Captainsdaughter for a head win over that one Sunday. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third to Leeloo.
The Iroquois was run over 6 1/2 furlongs.
Cara’s Time ($7.30) stalked the leaders as Athena’s Beach set pressured fractions of 22.47 for the opening quarter and 45.74 for the half-mile. The eventual winner took the lead through six furlongs in 1:10.69 and fought on to the wire while covering the distance in 1:17.13.
Jockey Dylan Davis was aboard Cara’s Time.
“She is just a ball of energy,” he told NYRA. “She has got a lot [of energy], and knows what she has to do.
“We had [Captainsdaughter] beat the majority of the way, and the last 70 yards she was able to find a little extra and persevere. I think that is where all the route races come in, she is just much fitter. She ran a great race, was really a game effort until the wire."
Cara’s Time is a daughter of Not This Time who races for Richard Greeley. Mitchell Friedman trains the filly, who was winning the second stakes race of her career Sunday. She is now 4 for 12 for earnings of $346,850.
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