Big Blue (Mb Stables) delivered a sharp stakes score for jockey Franco M, securing the Carle Place at 6 furlongs on turf. Sent off at 4-1, the 3-year-old sat close early, moved to the front by the middle stages, and maintained the advantage through the stretch to prevail by a neck in 1:09.24 on a good course.

Race Recap

Fractions were :22.2, :45.3, :57.1, 1:09.1 (official). East Indies showed the way at the opening call. By the half-mile, Big Blue had taken command and still led at the stretch call. Douda advanced into a contending spot by the stretch and kept on to the wire, while Black War improved position through the lane to grab third. Matching tracked the pace factors and held fourth, with Dion and Stalagtite following. Boogie Bomb, Greek Knight, East Indies, and Small Things completed the order.

Horse Mentions

• Big Blue — Mb Stables • Franco M: Second at the first call, in front at the half and stretch, and held to the wire to win in 1:09.24.
• Douda — Spankys Barn • Davis D: Sat behind the early group, moved into third by the stretch, then finished second.
• Black War — Axeman • Rosario J: Raced off the early pace, improved late to finish third.
• Matching — Maxmillion Farm • Carmouche K: Tracked the leaders through the middle calls and finished fourth.
• Dion — D J C Racing Stables • Silvera Ru: Sat midpack through the middle calls and finished fifth.
• Stalagtite — Maxmillion Farm • Lezcano J: Attended the pace through the early and middle stages, then finished sixth.
• Boogie Bomb — Ajm Stables • Cancel E: Was farther back at the calls and finished seventh.
• Greek Knight — Mb Stables • Santana R Jr: Raced off the pace and finished eighth.
• East Indies — Nakamura Stables • Ortiz J L: Set the pace at the first call, then yielded and finished ninth.
• Small Things — Mb Stables • Prat F: Close early, dropped back through the middle stages, and finished tenth.

What’s next for the winner?

Given the time and the way Big Blue controlled the race from the middle stages, a logical next step would be another late-season open-company turf sprint stake at 6 furlongs, potentially at Aqueduct or Churchill Downs, before a short freshening for a 4-year-old turf sprint campaign.

Track: Good
Time: :22²  :45³  :57¹  1:09¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 4 Paid 199.30
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 4 – 7 Paid 427.20

Scratched: None

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded