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Sir Greeley catches Love of Money in Westchester Timber Bay Farm and Mrs. Thomas Walsh's SIR GREELEY (Mr. Greeley) caught Love of Money (Not for Love) late to win Wednesday's $108,800 Westchester H. (G3), the opening-day feature at Belmont Park. Rating off the loose pacesetter in the early stages, the four-year-old gelding rallied into contention leaving the far turn but still had plenty of ground to make up under Eibar Coa. The James Jerkens trainee responded to the challenge, earning his first graded win in the process, but he needed nearly every bit of the long stretch in Elmont, New York, to catch his rival, who had not started since last year's Metropolitan Mile H. (G1). "I'm glad that (Richard) Dutrow's horse (Love of Money) didn't have another race under his belt," Jerkens said. "We were able to run our own race and finish strong." Love of Money blazed his way through an opening quarter-mile in :22 1/5 and led by eight lengths following a half in :44 3/5. It was 5 1/2 lengths back to Sir Greeley in second after six furlongs in 1:08 2/5, and the winner came home rapidly to complete a mile in 1:33 3/5 over the fast track. Sent off the 9-5 favorite, Sir Greeley paid $5.80, $2.70 and $2.30 to his supporters. Love of Money, who finished three parts of a length back in a very game performance, was worth $4 and $3.40 at 3-1. It was 6 3/4 lengths back to Happy Hunting (Seeking the Gold). Show returned $5.30, the exacta $23.20 and the 2-7-6 trifecta, with Happy Hunting at 14-1, totaled $125.50. Gygistar (Prospector's Music), who had captured the previous two runnings of the Westchester, had his win skein snapped in fourth. Kennel Up (Joyeux Danseur) and Little Thunder (Sword Dance [Ire]) came next. Blazing Purrsuit (Tale of the Cat) was withdrawn. Bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich III and Brilliant Stables, Sir Greeley is the first registered foal out of the winning Concern mare Worry Not, who has an unraced two-year-old daughter named Noworriesforme (El Corredor) and a 2006 son by Successful Appeal. Sir Greeley was exiting runner-up finishes, beaten a neck both times, in the Carter H. (G1) and Richter Scale Breeders' Cup Sprint Championship H. (G2). The dark bay, whose only previous stakes win came in December's Fly So Free S. at Aqueduct, earned his first career victory nearly 13 months ago in a $25,000 maiden claiming event. "Sir Greeley has really been a nice surprise," Jerkens said. "I would have never thought he would turn out this good after his first couple of races." The four-year-old gelding has earned $358,551 from a 18-7-3-0 record. Jerkens said they would consider the May 29 Met Mile next.
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