Just as he did last year, Boisterous scored an easy victory in the
Grade 2, $200,000 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday,
wrapping up his season with identical back-to-back stakes wins.
A repeat winner of last month’s Grade 3 Knickerbocker at Belmont
Park, Boisterous lived up to his role as the 2-5 favorite as he
successfully defended his title in the 53rd edition of the Red Smith.
With Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado aboard, the 5-year-old son of
Distorted Humor tracked Bombaguia through tepid fractions of 52.29
seconds for the opening half-mile mile and 1:43.23 for the mile, moved
into striking position around the final turn and took command at the
head of the stretch before drawing clear to a three-length victory over
Lake Drop.
Boisterous completed 1 3/8 miles in 2:19.38 over the yielding turf course.
“The horse ran huge,” said Prado. “He showed up one more time and did it pretty easily.”
The victory was the third in seven 2012 starts for Boisterous, who
also won the Grade 3 Fort Marcy in May at Belmont, ran second in the
Grade 3 Arlington Handicap and third in the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap.
His only off-the-board performance came in August when he finished
ninth, beaten 5 ¾ lengths, in the Grade 1 Arlington Million.
“He wasn’t beaten that badly [in the Million], but I think he’s the
kind of horse who appreciates the fall weather more than the summer
heat,” said Buzzy Tenney, assistant to winning Hall of Fame trainer Shug
McGaughey. “I believe this will be the last race of the year for him.
We’ll take him down to Florida and bring him back in the spring, just
like last year.”
Now 9-1-2 from 21 career starts, Boisterous pushed his earnings to
$766,390 with the winner’s purse of $120,000, and returned $2.70 for a
$2 win bet.
Runner-up Lake Drop was 4 ¼ lengths in front of Philly Ace, who was
followed under the wire by Westside Corral, Game Ball, and Bombaguia.
Isn’t He Perfect and Pleasant Prince, entered for the main track only,
were scratched.
