By Chris Maley
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> After finishing a well-beaten third in an allowance race less than three weeks ago at Saratoga Race Course, trainer Gary Contessa and rider Julien Leparoux decided to change their strategy with 3-year-old colt Station Chief in Monday’s second race.
That strategy — to come off the pace — worked out perfectly.
Sitting 6 1/2 lengths behind the leader at the top of the stretch, Station Chief (12-1) stormed to the finish line to nip Cuantos by a nose to win the six-furlong $90,000 allowance in 1:10.48.
Station Chief paid $27 to win. Cuantos took second and Swell finished third.
“Last time he went to the lead and stopped so this time we tried something different, today we tried to make him relax and he ran well at the end,” Leparoux said.
“I think this horse needed Leparoux because before today everybody was trying to make this a speed horse,” Contessa said. “They say Leparoux could rate anything and it worked well. It seems like a new style is going to work well for this horse.”
Leparoux admitted he wasn’t aware who won the race.
“The favorite was in front of me, I knew it was going to be tough to go by him but we fought and I’m glad we got it,” he said.
The son of multiple grade stakes winner Disco Rico improved to 2-2-1 in seven career starts, all this year.
Owned by Magis Thoroughbreds, Station Chief hit the board at 7 furlongs on Aug. 9 at the Spa. He broke his maiden April 18 at Aqueduct at 5 1/2 furlongs and finished second June 12 at Belmont.
“He’s been the favorite so many times. He showed big improvement because last time Julien managed to get him to rate and it taught him something,” Contessa said. “Today he was able to rate and learn from it. I think he’s going to be a better horse.
http://www.troyrecord.com/sports/20140825/undercard-station-chief-prevails-in-race-2
