By B. Jason Brooks
After opening his 5-year-old campaign with back-to-back victories, Phipps Stable homebred Pentathlon is seeking his first career graded stakes win on Sunday in the $175,000 Westchester Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Race Course.
The one-mile dirt race for ages four years and older includes a field of five, with a scheduled post time of 4:16 p.m. Eastern. Pentathlon drew the rail and retains the services of jockey Dylan Davis for Hall of Fame trainer Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey.
The Speightstown horse is coming off of a determined victory in the Army Mule Stakes on March 28th at Gulfstream Park in which he rallied from off the pace to win by a half-length. The stakes victory followed an impressive February 15th allowance optional claiming score at Tampa Bay Downs in which Pentathlon rallied win by three and a quarter lengths.
Pentathlon enters the Westchester after winning three of his last four starts, dating back to October 24th. His only loss during this span came against a deep field in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct in December in which he finished fifth.
Sunday’s race represents a step back up to graded stakes competition and will also stretch Pentathlon back out to a mile, the same distance he broke his maiden by three and a half lengths at Saratoga.
The accomplished field for the Westchester Stakes includes grade 1 winner Antiquarian (Preservationist), multiple graded stakes winner Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), and multiple stakes winners Quint’s Brew (Mosler) and Rated by Merit (Battalion Runner).
Bred by Phipps Stable, Pentathlon is owned by his breeder in partnership with Vinnie and Teresa Viola’s St. Elias Stable and the Farish family’s Woodford Racing partnership.
A victory in the Westchester would give Pentathlon his third consecutive win and first graded stakes victory.
B. Jason Brooks is a Thoroughbred racing and pedigree researcher, writer, and social media manager residing in Saratoga Springs, New York. He can be followed on X at @bjbrooksNY.
Phipps Stable Fan Blog 