Queens County

Phipps Stable's homebred PHILANTHROPIST (Kris S.), looking beaten in

midstretch, responded to Eibar Coa's urging and rallied to gain a neck victory

over West Virginia (Tomorrows Cat) in Saturday's $105,400

Queens County H. (G3)

at Aqueduct. The four-year-old Shug McGaughey trainee thus made his stakes debut

a winning one, completing the 1 3/16-mile test in 1:56 4/5 on the inner dirt

labeled as good.

Philanthropist broke alertly and found it easy work to secure the rail along

with an unpressured lead through an opening quarter in :24 and a half-mile in

:48 4/5. But jockeys Michael Luzzi aboard 9-5 favorite Trapped Again (Deputy

Commander) and Norberto Arroyo Jr. atop West Virginia were alive to Coa's shrewd

slowing of the tempo, and they drove up to Philanthropist's flank through six

furlongs in 1:13 1/5. We Can Seek (Chi) (Seeker's Reward) was content to track

the pace in fourth. Evening Attire (Black Tie Affair [Ire]), who had walked out

of the gate and spotted the field five lengths right off the bat, cruised into

contention on the outside and appeared eager to deliver his challenge as the

field entered the far turn.

Turning into the stretch, Philanthropist drifted away from the rail, leaving

an inviting opening for We Can Seek, who promptly slipped through on the inside

and made a short-lived bid for the lead. West Virginia was surging on the

outside, and in midstretch, looked the certain winner, with Philanthropist

retreating and We Can Seek stalling. But under Coa's handling, Philanthropist

came alive once more, producing an impressive late kick to collar West Virginia

and post a narrow but decisive score. Two lengths behind the top pair came We

Can Seek, salvaging third by a neck over Evening Attire, who flattened out in

the stretch. Trapped Again rounded out the field, with Summer Book (Notebook) a

scratch.

As the fourth choice in a five-horse field at nearly 6-1, Philanthropist gave

his supporters $13.20, $6.80, and $5.10 while sparking a $47.20 exacta. West

Virginia, the near 3-1 third choice, returned $4.20 and $3.50. We Can Seek,

the longest shot on the board at odds of nearly 8-1, paid $4.70 and completed

the trifecta (3-6-2) worth $212.50.

Bred in Kentucky by Ogden Mills Phipps, Philanthropist is the second graded

stakes winner produced by his dam, Hidden Reserve (Mr. Prospector), who already

had 2004 Laurel Futurity (G3) winner Defer (Danzig) to her credit. Hidden

Reserve was a multiple graded stakes performer herself, garnering places in the

Shuvee H. (G2), Demoiselle S. (G2) and Bed O' Roses Breeders' Cup H. (G3). She

has a yearling named Deliberately and a weanling, both colts by A. P. Indy.

Philanthropist hails from one of the Phippses' stellar families. Hidden

Reserve is a full sister to multiple Grade 1 victress and $1.1 million-earner

Educated Risk, whose daughter Strategy (A. P. Indy) just took the honors in the

November 27 Real Prize S. at Aqueduct. Hidden Reserve's half-sister, Inside

Information (Private Account), was the champion older mare in 1995, racking up

six Grade 1 triumphs (including the Breeders' Cup Distaff) and more than $1.6

million in purses. Inside Information has maintained the family tradition, as

she is the dam of 2005 Coaching Club American Oaks S. (G1) and Mother Goose S.

(G1) heroine Smuggler (Unbridled). This clan traces to the profoundly

influential mare Grey Flight (*Mahmoud).

With the Queens County on his resume, Philanthropist now has a record of six

wins and five placings in 14 lifetime starts along with a bankroll of $260,590.