News Ballagh Rocks Holds Off Projected, Wins G3 Poker June 18, 2017 News Ballagh Rocks Holds Off Projected, Wins G3 Poker June 18, 2017 By: Jared Welch twitterfacebooklinkedinemail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article ELMONT, NY – Donegal Racing’s Ballagh Rocks picked up the first stakes win of his career with a hard-fought score over even-money favorite Projected in the Grade 3, $300,000 Poker for 4-year-olds and up at Belmont Park. Under Jose Lezcano, Ballagh Rocks settled close to the pace on the outside of Projected, while a frontrunning Catapult took the field of five through opening fractions of :23.03 and :46.12. Projected, ridden by Joel Rosario, was checked in the middle of the turn as Catapult gave up the lead, leaving Ballagh Rocks alone to seize the lead near the 1/4 pole. Lezcano kept close tabs on Projected, fully regrouped and now charging down by the rail, and angled the Bill Mott trainee to the inside to hold off the favorite for a neck victory. Off at 3-1, Ballagh Rocks completed the mile in 1:34.98. “I had a terrific trip,” said Lezcano. “He really came into the race fit and in great shape today. I was able to stalk out a perfect trip, and in the lane, he just had a great run. Towards the wire, I knew the 2 horse (Projected) was close, but I was confident I had enough horse. I was just focused on riding through to the finish.” New Subscriber Bonus: Access our Top 10 Wagering Angles in Racing to see exactly what we look for when opening up the past performances. The victory was the first in three stakes attempts for the 4-year-old colt by Stormy Atlantic, who finished a close fourth in the Grade 1 Makers 46 Mile in April and a troubled seventh in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on May 6. The win was the fifth overall for Ballagh Rocks. The $180,000 winner’s share of the Poker purse nearly doubled his lifetime earnings, which now stand at $376,910. “Bill Mott and I were talking about whether to run the horse in a $100,000 stakes at Canterbury or the Poker, and Bill said we’re running in the Poker,” said Donegal Racing’s Jerry Crawford. “So I thought, ‘OK, I’m buying a plane ticket if he’s that confident.’ “Bill did a great job getting this horse ready,” he added. “Jose Lezcano did exactly what we talked about in the paddock. (He had) a brisk warmup. We thought he’d be laying closer to the pace today, because there wasn’t a great deal of speed, and that’s exactly what he did. Ballagh Rocks still came with it at the end.” Night Prowler finished third, 4 lengths behind the top pair. Catapult and Bolting completed the order of finish. Weekend Hideway, entered for the main track only, and Lubash were scratched. Ballagh Rocks returned $8.20, $3.20, and $2.30. Projected brought back $2.60 and $2.10, while Night Prowler paid $2.40 to show. NYRA
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