Elisabeth Alexander’s MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor Grades) swept to the front at the
head of the stretch and pulled away to a 3 3/4-length win in the $209,100
Excelsior Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday. Racing in third for the
opening six panels, the Todd Pletcher charge began picking up momentum turning
for home and dispatched pacesetter Accountforthegold (Successful Appeal) nearing
the eighth pole, striding clear to finish off the 1 1/8 miles in a sharp 1:48.
Piloted by John Velazquez, the 2-1 second choice gave back $6.70, $4.20 and
$3.50, while topping the $93 exacta and $396.50 trifecta.
Naughty New Yorker (Quiet American) was outrun early but finished with good
energy to earn the place spot. The 22-1 longest shot paid $12.80 and $7.50.
Accountforthegold did well to maintain third, missing the runner-up spot by a
neck. Show paid $5.40 for the near 9-1 shot. It was another neck back to
Evening Attire (Black Tie Affair [Ire]), followed by 4-5 choice Corinthian
(Pulpit) and Happy Hunting (Seeking the Gold).
Magna Graduate notched his sixth graded stakes win in here, having already
taken the Clark H. (G2), Discovery H. (G3), Pegasus S. (G3), Queens County H. (G3)
and Razorback Breeders’ Cup H. (G3). The five-year-old also sports a quintet of
graded placings, notably the 2006 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). For his career, the dark
bay boasts a bankroll of $2,059,410 from a 22-9-3-4 mark.
The winner was bred in Kentucky by Nicole Zitani and Ramon Rangel, and was
purchased for $30,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Out of the
unraced Peacock Alley (Fast Play), the winner has an unnamed two-year-old
half-sister by Holy Bull and an unnamed yearling half-brother by Hennessy.