Grade 3 Westchester winner Caixa
Eletronica came out of the one-mile race in good order, according to
Jonathan Thomas, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher.
A 6-year-old son of Arromanches, Caixa Eletronica was
claimed by Pletcher for $62,500 on behalf of owner Mike Repole two starts back
at Gulfstream
Park
and quickly recouped most of his purchase price when he upset four others to
collect the $60,000 winner’s share of the Westchester purse.
Caixa Eletronica was able to sit just off swift early
fractions of 22.34 and 44.72 set by Christmas for Liam – trained by
Pletcher for the Estate of Edward P. Evans – who was closely tracked by favored
Haynesfield. The front runners finished fifth and fourth, respectively,
as Caixa Eletronica took command in the stretch to hit the wire three lengths
in front.
“Both horses came out of it well,” said Thomas of Caixa
Eletronica and Christmas for Liam. “We certainly have not lost any faith in
Christmas for Liam; he may have gotten used up a little early and we’ll chalk
it up to tactical error.”
While the Grade 1 Met Mile on May 30th is a
potential target for Caixa Eletronica, Thomas said Christmas for Liam’s next
start was undecided.
Haynesfield, the New York-bred horse of the year in 2010 who
was making his season debut in the Westchester for trainer Steve Asmussen and
owner Turtle Bird Stable, also emerged from the race in good order, said Toby
Sheets, the trainer’s New York
assistant.