Hot-riding bug boy Pablo Fragoso, who’s been glued to the rail the entire winter meet at Aqueduct, saved every inch of ground again yesterday, then came roaring through a narrow hole along the fence to win the $75,000 Rare Treat Handicap by 13/4 lengths aboard 4-5 favorite Austin’s Mom.
Riding without the benefit of his five-pound apprentice allowance, Fragoso, 21, won one other race on the card, giving him a meet-leading 53 victories for the stand.
Golden Damsel, second choice at 2-1, set an easy early pace (:24, :49.1) under Rich Migliore and held a clear lead heading into the far turn of the mile-and-an-eighth race, with Austin’s Mom fifth in the field of seven fillies and mares. As the cavalry began to close in to Golden Damsel’s outside down the stretch, Austin’s Mom cut the corner and slipped through to her inside, quickly opening daylight.
“She was training great,” said trainer Allen Iwinski. “My only concern was getting the rail. There was a big rail bias. I told Pablo, ‘Get to the rail and stay there,’ and he did.”
The victory was the fourth straight for Austin’s Mom, who won the Affectionately Handicap here last out by 5½ lengths.
With a final time of 1:52.3, she paid $3.70. UK Trick was along late to complete a $23.80 exacta. Biogio’s Beauty was third.