Dogwood Stable’s LIMEHOUSE (Grand Slam) settled into second under John
Velazquez as Rogue Agent (Anjiz) set the opening marks in the $250,000
Brooklyn
H. (G2) but had taken over by the time three-quarters of a mile was reached in 1:10. From
there, the Todd Pletcher-trained four-year-old just extended his margin,
finishing 1 1/2 lengths in front of Gygistar (Prospector’s Music) over the fast
Belmont Park dirt. Limehouse ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:46 3/5 and returned $7.80,
$3.90 and $3.50 as the near 3-1 third pick in the nine-horse field.
Gygistar patiently waited in third behind Limehouse and Rogue Agent and
challenged the eventual winner in the stretch before settling for second, two lengths
in front of Cuba (Not for Love). He paid $3.70 and $3.20 as the 2-1 favorite and
completed the $26.40 exacta. Cuba finished third, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Royal
Assault (Kris S.), but came in entering the turn, forcing Jose Santos to take up
on Funny Cide (Distorted Humor). After a stewards’ inquiry and Santos lodging an
objection for the interference, Cuba was disqualified to fifth, which moved
Royal Assault up to third. Show paid $6.50 at 17-1 and ended the $245.50
trifecta (9-3-2).
Funny Cide was moved to fourth with Cuba placed a spot behind him, and completing
the order of finish were Evening Attire (Black Tie Affair [Ire]), Rogue Agent,
Spite the Devil (Devil His Due) and Chowder’s First (Let Goodtimes Roll).
Limehouse, now a winner of six total stakes, captured the Alysheba S. prior
to this race and also owns five black-type placings, including runner-up
finishes in the New Orleans H. (G2) and Mr. Prospector H. (G3) this year. Moving
his record to 17-7-2-3, the chestnut joined the millionaire ranks with the
winner’s share, now showing $1,062,433 in accumulated earnings.
Bred by Cheryl A. Curtin, the Florida bred is out of Dixieland Blues
(Dixieland Band), also the dam of an unraced juvenile named Notsingingtheblues
(Grand Slam), and sold to his current connections as a $140,000 Fasig-Tipton
August yearling.