The Gander ($135.000 Purse)
AQU- For Three Year Olds Foaled In NY
One Mile on the Dirt
March 7, 2026

After running third in the Runyon here last time out, Resurgent scored a win against NY-breds on Saturday, prevailing in a photo over Angel In Command in The Gander. It’s the second career win for the colt by Lea, and trainer D J C Racing Stables will be hoping that there is more to come for him. This is the third win in four years now for the trainer, as both Verrazano and Classical did so for him previously. Neither of them went on to have bigger success, so perhaps Resurgent will be able to change that trend for the D J C. Congratulations to him, and to jockey D Davis, who is now a first time Gander winner. The time of the win was 1:35.09, the third fastest in the history of the race. Here’s a look at how it happened!

(1/4 Mile- :22.95)- Our eventual winner from D J C Racing Stables, Resurgent, does not wait around and goes right to the lead, clearing the field by a length after a quarter mile. Creepy Shine will hold the second spot for RNP Stables, and he is a length ahead of a group of five horses that run alongside one another. Belgian Connection runs on the outside here for Nakamura Stables, and has a neck in front of the others. Not much separates the other four, who from inside to outside are, Grievous (Royalty Stables), Yonis On The Run (Spb Racing), The Fixer (Mb Stables), and Angel In Command (Mb Stables). Behind then, it’s Very Strange (Axeman) running on the rail with Crossing The Lake (The Sidley Stud) nearby. Trailing are Sweet N Spicy (Mb Stables) and Grand Sharky (Red Fox Farms).

(½ Mile- :46.48)- Not a whole lot changes as the field completes the run down the backstretch, as Resurgent continues to hold an advantage of a length on Creepy Shine. These two continue to be ahead of a group of five right behind them, but Belgian Connection is starting to lose touch with those other four as they approach the turn. Angel In Command is now third, with a head in front of his stablemate, The Fixer, who runs immediately to his inside. Grievous and Yonis On The Run are next and are closest to the rail. Belgian Connection is still five wide. Very Strange and Crossing The Lake are behind this wall of horses, while Sweet N Spicy and Grand Sharky still run at the back.

(Top of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- Resurgent confidently handles the turn, and will enter the stretch still in strong stride. The same can be said for Creepy Shine, as he is able to maintain his position of being second and a length behind. The five wide group that had been right behind him has broken up, with Angel In Command inching away from the others and does this with an outside trip around the turn. The Fixer is within a half length of him, while Grievous is fifth and looking for some room on the rail in the stretch. Both Yonis On The Run and Belgian Connection have dropped back, and now have Very Strange coming on between them. Sweet N Spicy is further back, but looking to make a power move around the outside and into the stretch. Meanwhile, the bottom drops out on Crossing The Lake, and Grand Sharky still trails.

(Finish- 1:35.09)- With a furlong to go, it’s still Resurgent and he has won the battle with Creepy Shine as that one has nothing left. Angel In Command takes over the second spot, but still has a lot of work to do in order to catch the leader. Approaching the wire, it did seem like Resurgent was going to be safe but Angel In Command would respond to R Gutierrez’s urging and made it close at the wire. In the end, it is Resurgent that holds on, and will win by a length over a game Angel In Command. Grievous found his room on the rail to take the third spot, but never threatened for more. The very late running Sweet N Spicy came on strong on the outside to narrowly claim the fourth place check over Creepy Shine and Very Strange. Rounding it out, it’s The Fixer, Yonis On The Run, Belgian Connection, Grand Sharky, and a fatigued Crossing The Lake.

About The Winner- Resurgent, trained by D J C Racing Stables and ridden to victory by D Davis, is a three year old colt by Lea and is out of Arrest That Girl. He was bred in New York by D J C Racing Stables as a second quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his second in six starts and first stake win. His career earnings are now $155.600.

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded