America goes last to first in Affectionately; Belle Gallantey fifth

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay's homebred America nabbed pacesetter Penwith on the

line to earn her first stakes score in Thursday's $100,000

Affectionately Stakes at Aqueduct. Belle Gallantey, the 3-5 favorite in the

New Year's Day feature, faded to fifth after tracking the pace.

A daughter of A.P. Indy from the family of 2007 Belmont-winning champion Rags

to Riches, America was a $725,000 RNA as a Keeneland September yearling. The

newly-turned four-year-old has been highly tried over her career, with her best

efforts being a third in last spring's Gulfstream Park Oaks and a coveted Grade

1 placing when third in the June 28 Mother Goose.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott lowered her sights of late, and America has

responded by compiling a three-race winning streak. After romping by 6 3/4

lengths in an entry-level, off-the-turf allowance on Aqueduct's main oval

November 2, she came right back in a second-level event on the inner December 3,

and made it a hat trick here.

Patiently handled by Junior Alvarado, the 4-1 third choice lagged in last, as

many as nine lengths off the steady pace. Penwith, part of the Godolphin entry

who went off as the second choice at 4-1, was enjoying an uncontested lead

through splits of :23 4/5, :47 4/5 and 1:12 1/5. Belle Gallantey, the Delaware

Handicap and Beldame heroine who was last seen finishing ninth in the Breeders'

Cup Distaff, gave early chase before backing out.