Derby News

Photo By: Adam Coglianese

Ramon Dominguez gears down Achilles of Troy, crossing the wire an easy winner in the Whirlaway Stakes

The snow was just beginning to fall at Aqueduct when Achilles of Troy stepped onto the track for his next step toward the May 6 Kentucky Derby. A little under two minutes later, the 3-year-old son of Notebook cruised home a 4 ¾ length winner in the $70,915 Whirlaway Stakes, his third straight victory.

Under Ramon Dominguez, the gray colt stayed just off the early pace set by One Way Flight, made a quick move to take the lead approaching the quarter-pole and drew clear under a right-handed whip. His time for the mile and a sixteenth was 1:43 1/5.

"He's very deceiving," said Dominguez, who replaced Alan Garcia aboard Achilles of Troy when owner Ernie Paragallo and trainer Jen Pedersen elected to go with a more experienced jockey. "He just covers a lot of ground with ease. I got to the three-eighths pole, and I even got a little concerned because he was so relaxed. I wasn't sure if he was going to fire, but I didn't want to test him that early.

"As soon as I got to the top of the stretch, I shook him up and got an immediate response," added Dominguez. "In the stretch, once I knew he wasn't going to get beat, I put my hands down and he eased himself up. He's a real smart horse and he's got a great attitude."

The attitude - and the talent - will next take Achilles of Troy to Florida for the $300,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) on March 4.

"He's got another race under his belt now," said Paragallo, who said the colt will be based at the Classic Mile training Center in Ocala. "He's got the experience. Now, he'll go and tackle the big boys -- but I'd like to know who the big boys are."

Paragallo, accompanied by his daughter, Valerie, said his other 3-year-old, Scanlon's Song, will be pointed toward the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G1) on April 8, adding: "I've already got that race marked down in the win column."

Both horses are trained by Pedersen, who was not at the race. Paragallo said she was with her daughter, who had a doctor's appointment.

As for Achilles of Troy, Paragallo said the horse has the ideal temperament for the spring classics.

"Today's race was what we expected - it was nothing more than an open gallop," he said. "The horse will do whatever you want him to do. If you ask him, he'll go :56 in the morning, but that's not what we want him to do. He didn't exert himself too much today."

In winning his third race from six starts, Achilles of Troy earned $42,549 to extend his bankroll to $128,577. He returned $2.60 for a $2 win bet to those in the crowd of 3,727 who made him the odds-on favorite in a field of seven.

Completing the order of finish were One Way Flight, Rob'em Blind, Platinum Couple, River City Rebel, Eye for Style and Psychotic Reaction.

« Back To Derby News

Derby Info