George Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the New York Yankees who
passed away Tuesday at the age of 80, was renowned for his will to win, and
Position Limit helped keep that legacy alive today at Belmont Park
when she broke her maiden impressively.
Position Limit is a 2-year-old daughter of freshman sire Bellamy Road,
who dominated his opponents in the 2005 Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct
Racetrack by 17 ½ lengths while racing for Steinbrenner’s Kinsman Stable.
“I thought it was interesting timing, and obviously Bellamy Road was
one of Mr. Steinbrenner’s better horses,” said Todd Pletcher, who
trains Position Limit for Starlight Partners. “It’s nice seeing him
getting off to a good start as a stallion, and it’s a fitting tribute to
the man.”
The 4-1 third choice in today’s fourth race, Position Limit raced
four wide in fifth around the far turn, seized command from the pacesetter
inside the quarter pole, and drew off under a vigorous hand ride in the stretch
to prevail by 6 ¾ lengths. The final time for 5 ½ furlongs in the mud was
1:04.70.
Bellamy Road,
who finished seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and second in the Grade 1
Travers in his only two efforts following the Wood, stood the 2010 breeding
season at Pauls Mill in Versailles, Ky.
for a $10,000 fee. With today’s victory, Position Limit became the second
winner for the 8-year-old son of Concerto.
“We were very pleased with the way she had trained,” said
Pletcher. “She was a first-time starter who we thought would want a
little more distance, and we caught an off racetrack. You’re always
concerned with how they are going to handle that, but she had trained like she
was capable of winning first out. I think if she comes out of it well, a race
like the Adirondack [Grade 3, August 15 at
Saratoga Race Course] could be on our radar screen.”