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Purrsuit (Tale of the Cat) was withdrawn.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.