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QC04042013

FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com april 4, 2013 • The Queens Courier 21 Reliable power options. with Power your fun or cover an emergency. From America’s #1 home standby generator to the most powerful portable generator on the market, Generac brings more choices in affordable power solutions. Call today for more information on our products and services. Dealer Name Here Sales 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX Service 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX Website www.youraddress If you list your address, city, state, place it along the bottom as shown Model XG 8000E Janco Electric Inc. 14-12 150th Street, Whitestone, NY 11357 Sales & Service 347-732-9514 www.jancoelectric.com Derby Favorites Face-off in Queens’ Biggest Race It’s extremely rare to see the country’s top two three year olds face off before the Kentucky Derby but that will be the case at Aqueduct Racetrack Saturday, April 6th when undefeated Verrazano and undefeated Vyjack compete in the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial. The Wood is New York’s premier prep race for the Kentucky Derby with a long history as a springboard to Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes success. Five of the eleven Triple Crown winners have competed in the race including most recently Secretariat and Seattle Slew. One of the horses looking to add his name to that distinguished list is New York-based Vyjack who has spent the winter stabled at Aqueduct, going 4-for-4 at the Queens track. Following a pair of wins as a 2-yearold, Vyjack started off his sophomore season with a narrow victory in the Grade 2 Jerome after contesting the pace. In his most recent start in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 2, Vyjack changed his running style when he rallied from far back and blew past his opponents to win by 2 ¼ widening lengths. Vyjack, whose name is a result of combining the names of his owner’s parents Vivenne and Jack, is the first horse owned by David Wilkenfeld. Wilkenfeld is a successful entrepreneur and horseplayer who knows just how lucky he is to own such a promising runner. “It’s amazing,” said Wilkenfeld moments after Vyjack won the Gotham. “Words can’t describe it. You buy a horse, you hope for this, but it’s not something you really think about.” Vyjack is expected to face his toughest challenge to date in the form of another undefeated 3-year-old – Verrazano. Despite his quintessential New York name, Verrazano is making his first Big Apple appearance following three dominant wins in Florida. Verrazano trounced the competition by an astonishing 24 lengths in his first two races before he easily handled stakes competition with a three-length win in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 9. Verrazano is trained by five-time champion trainer Todd Pletcher, who won the 2010 Kentucky Derby with Super Saver and saddled Rags to Riches to a victory over Horse of the Year Curlin in the 2007 Belmont Stakes. Pletcher has been pointing Verrazano, the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, to the Wood Memorial for quite some time. “Looking at his schedule, we felt the Tampa Bay Derby put him in a position that opened up a lot of options, with the Wood always being our first choice,” said Pletcher. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has ridden the colt in his first three starts and will be aboard once again in the Wood Memorial. The rest of the Wood Memorial field is coming up strong, even with both the Kentucky Derby favorite Verrazano and Derby second choice Vyjack pointing for the race. The top notch field includes several other talented 3-year-olds in Grade 2 Remsen runner-up Normandy Invasion and Gotham second- and third-place finishers West Hills Giant and Elnaawi. While the Wood Memorial is the main attraction, Saturday’s undercard is not to be overlooked with four additional graded stakes, including another Grade 1 in the Carter Handicap for sprinters and the Grade 2 Gazelle for three-year-old fillies. First post Saturday at Aqueduct is at 12:50 pm and admission is free. - ADVERTISEMENT - BOB COB LIANESE PHOTOS INC


QC04042013
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