Just Beat the Odds Wins Graded Stakes Debut

It was an easy stakes victory in his graded stakes debut for Just Beat the Odds (5g Munnings x Bella d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro) on Saturday with a win in the Gr.3 Elite Power S. at Aqueduct.

Stepping up to the graded stakes level for the first time in the six-furlong dirt race, Just Beat the Odds didn’t have to live up to his name when bettors sent him off as the race favorite. He took the lead soon after the break with Acoustic Ave keeping him honest when pushing him around the track.

That one engaged him in battle with three furlongs left to run and Just Beat the Odds was happy to respond. The battle was over soon after they entered the stretch with Just Beat the Odds pulling away to win by 2 ¾ lengths at the line.

Trained by Gregory Sacco for Donna Wright, the gelding has won five of his 13 starts with seven other top three finishes for $345,495 in earnings with three top two finishes in three starts this year.

“Everything has come together. He has many gears, and the good horses have the gears - when they come to you, they have the ability to take off. He's a cool horse and all the credit goes to my son and the staff in New York,” Sacco said.

Bred by Red Oak Stable, he is one of five winners from six to race out of the three-time winning mare Bella d’Oro. That mare is a half-sister to dual Gr.3 winner Belleski, who produced Gr.3 winner and Gr.1 placed Keri Belle and the stakes placed Blissful. Another sibling is the stakes winning Thunder Belle with a third producing stakes winner Carbonite and the dam of Gr.1 placed Kaxinguele.

This is the second stakes winner in just over a week for Munnings, whose 2-year-old daughter Sister Troienne won the Wait a While S. at Gulfstream Park.