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Ginger Punch takes Flight at Belmont Stronach Stables' homebred GINGER PUNCH (Awesome Again) took a short lead at the half-mile marker and strode clear to an emphatic five-length score in the $147,000 First Flight H. (G2) at Belmont Park on Sunday. Tracking just off the pace for the opening two furlongs, the Bobby Frankel charge reached four furlongs in :46 3/5 under Rafael Bejarano and was never in duress for the duration of the seven-furlong test, stopping the teletimer in 1:22 3/5 over the fast track. Sent off as the prohibitive 3-5 choice, the chestnut returned $3.20, $2.20 and $2.10 while topping the $7.90 exacta and $18.40 trifecta (1-3-2). Sweet Fervor (Seeking the Gold), who along with Swap Fliparoo (Exchange Rate) broke open the gate before the start, led briefly prior to the final turn but was no match for the winner late, securing the runner-up spot by two lengths. Place paid $3.40 and $2.50 for the 7-2 second choice. Swap Fliparoo completed the trifecta at 6-1, giving back $2.70, and was followed by Silmaril (Diamond) and Nothing But Fun (Dixie Union), while Sugar Swirl (Touch Gold) was withdrawn. Ginger Punch captured her initial stakes win in this one, having finished second by a neck in the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) last out and filling that same spot in the Madison S. (G2) at Keeneland. For her career, the filly boasts $291,279 in earnings from a 10-4-5-0 mark. The winner was bred in the Sunshine State and produced from the Grade 2-winning Nappelon (Bold Revenue), who is also responsible for an unraced two-year-old filly named Gold Revenue (Touch Gold) and an unnamed yearling filly by Red Bullet.
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