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Wishful Tomcat makes it four in a row in Alex M. Robb

Wishful Tomcat outclassed his foes in front-running style (Ross Woodson/Horsephotos.com) WISHFUL TOMCAT (Tactical Cat) had not raced since June, but the 1-5 favorite showed no signs of rust in Sunday's $69,550 Alex M. Robb H. for New York-breds at Aqueduct. Under a well-judged ride by Ramon Dominguez, the Rick Dutrow charge led throughout to record his fourth straight victory. Taking command right from the start, Wishful Tomcat sailed through fractions of :24 4/5, :50 2/5 and 1:15, spurted away entering the stretch and crossed the wire a handy 2 3/4-length winner. The four-year-old chestnut completed 1 1/16 miles on the muddy, sealed inner track in 1:47 4/5, paying $2.50, $2.30 and $2.10. "I just tried to slow him down as much as I could," Dominguez said. "There was no other speed in the race, and I was able to get away with a very comfortable second quarter. After that, it was just a matter of keeping him together. He was just the best horse in the race." Naughty New Yorker (Quiet American) reported home second, a neck in front of Pegasian (Fusaichi Pegasus).

Wishful Tomcat's seventh career stakes score improved his record to 18-9-3-2 while increasing his earnings to $462,384. Successful in the 2008 Discovery H. (G3), Floral Park S. and John's Gold S. for former conditioner Gary Contessa, the ridgling was transferred to Bobby Frankel in Southern California last winter. Wishful Tomcat opened 2009 with a third in the San Fernando S. (G2) at Santa Anita, and later in the spring, he joined Dutrow in New York.

After taking the April 26 Kings Point H. in his debut for the barn, Wishful Tomcat added the May 22 Seaport Mac S. and the June 27 Fratello Ed S. to his resume. His Alex M. Robb triumph made him a perfect four-for-four for Dutrow.

"He's just consistent," said Michael Iavarone, president of IEAH Stables, which campaigns Wishful Tomcat along with Pegasus Holding Group Stables and Winter Park Partners. "We're happy to have him back. As long as we put him in the right spots, he's going to do these things for us.

"We'll keep him here -- this is where he belongs," Iavarone added. "We'll wait and see how he comes out of the race. As long as they give us opportunities to run against New York-breds, we'd like to take advantage of that."

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