By Alan Carasso
1st-Belmont The Big A, $90,000, Msw, 10-26, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.69, ft, 5 lengths.
ROOKIE CARD (c, 2, Adios Charlie–Glamalert, by Vindication) atoned for a pair of tough-luck losses in his first two trips to the post to take the Saturday opener at Aqueduct with a fair bit of authority. Drawn the fence as the 1-2 jolly, the $165,000 OBS June breezer was soon in front for Dylan Davis and had company to his outside in the form of the once-raced Atlal (Quality Road) through an opening couple of furlongs in :22.35. Always appearing to be traveling the better of the two despite failing to build any sort of lead around the turn, the Florida-bred responded when set down in upper stretch, opened an unassailable advantage into the final furlong and won it by a good five lengths despite jumping the shadow cast by the winning post. He was tenderly handled on the gallop out, but returned to the winner's enclosure with his neck bowed and apparently none the worse for the incident. Rookie Card was beaten a neck into second behind 'TDN Rising Star' and subsequent GI Champagne Stakes runner-up Tip Top Thomas (Volatile) on the Travers Day undercard at Saratoga Aug. 24 and finished ahead of Keewaydin (Instagrand), who returned to carry Davis to 1 3/4-length maiden score two weeks ago, good for a 90 Beyer. Fourth home in the Aug. 24 contest was Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who will be one of the favorites for Sunday's GIII Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs despite finishing runner-up to Praetor (Into Mischief) going a mile here on Sept. 27. Rookie Card was second by a half-length at 2-5 in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden Sept. 21. Rookie Card is the last live produce for his dam, a half-sister to GI Ruffian Handicap winner Swift Temper (Giant's Causeway) and German listed winner Croisiere (Capote). The colt's third dam is three-time Grade I-winner Gorgeous (Slew o' Gold), a half-sister to 1990 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Seaside Attraction (Seattle Slew). Sales history: $165,000 2yo '24 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $87,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-R A Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables; B-Ocala Stud & Centaur Farms Inc (FL); T-Danny Gargan.
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