Micromanage rallies to win Queens County

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Ozone Park, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Micromanage, coupled with Misconnect, rallied from the outside to capture Saturday's $100,000 Queens County Stakes at Aqueduct.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Repole Stable, Micromanage and Misconnect went off as the 7-2 third pick in the 1 1/8-mile race with eight betting interests. Vyjack was the 6-5 favorite and Stormin Monarcho the 3-1 second choice.

Micromanage, ridden by Manuel Franco, settled off the pace in seventh as the field went up the backstretch. The 4-year-old colt began his rally from the outside on the far turn as Vyjack got shuffled back along the inside.

On the final turn, Micromanage moved into contention from the outside and went to the lead at the top of the stretch. Vyjack, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., was trapped on the inside but found running room with about 100 yards to go.

Micromanage surged down the stretch and held off Vyjack to win by 1 1/4 lengths with entrymate Misconnect getting third. The colt stopped the timer at 1:51.76 on a fast track.

"We really didn't want to run the two horses together; we kind of wanted to split them up. (But) they were both training really, really well, and if they're both going to stay here, this is the spot," owner Mike Repole said. "I thought Misconnect ran really, really well and Micro, getting off the turf and back to the dirt, at a mile-and-an-eighth, is really, really good. Manny Franco rode him very well for the first time he rode him. They'll stay in New York. There's another stakes on January 19 ($100,000 Jazil). They'll get a little bit of a break over the holidays and bring them back in January."

Rounding out the finish were Stormin Monarcho, Turco Bravo, Elnaawi, Don Dulce, Percussion and Plainview. Wealth To Me was scratched.

The Queens County victory was worth $60,000 as Micromanage boosted his career earnings to $701,881 with six wins, four seconds and five thirds from 23 lifetime starts.

"He's been training great and has been a solid horse for us, especially getting back on the dirt. He seems to like this inner track," Pletcher said.

Micromanage was coming off a 10th-place finish at Aqueduct four weeks ago in the Red Smith Handicap on grass. In mid-October he was third in Belmont Park's Bowling Green, also on turf, after setting most of the pace.

The colt already posted wins in the Skip Away at Gulfstream Park in March and the Birdstone in August at Saratoga. He was second in the Brooklyn Handicap and third as the even-money favorite in Parx Racing's Greenwood Cup. He had to be eased in Belmont's Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 27.

Micromanage returned $9.70, $3.70 and $4.90. Vyjack paid $3.20 and $2.90, and Misconnect paid $9.70, $3.70 and $4.90.