Ironicus (Photo : Eclipse Sportswire/Sue Kawczynski)
Ironicus made a dramatic stretch rallying from last place in posting a turf course record time to take the $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga Race Course on Monday.
Sent off as the even-money favorite, Ironicus stopped the clock in 1:38.54 for 1-1/16 miles surpassing the previous record of 1:38.91 record set by Fourstardave of 1:38.91, according to ESPN.
Ironicus' trainer Shug McGaughey won the Baruch for the fourth time in his Hall of Fame career.
Ironicus rallied down the middle of the course to prevail by 1-1/4 lengths over Grand Tito, a 27-1 outsider in the seven-horse field, Blood Horse reported.
All Included finished third followed by Vyjack, Constitution, Under Control, and Charming Kitten.
Castellano said that when they took second in the Fourstardave Handicap last Aug. 15, the pace was too slow and the rail too wide that kept him from giving the best chance to his horse.
But with no rail and a little more speed in the Baruch, Castellano said he was able to save all the ground, cut the corner and explode very well.
He added that since the Baruch was mile and a sixteenth, unlike the last time when it was just a mile, the extra sixteenth helped him find the kick.
Castellano is looking forward to raciing Ironicus at the Breeders' Cup on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Constitution set the pace while covering three-quarters in 1:09.44, but eventually got tired in the home stretch.
It was the fifth win from 11career starts for Ironicus, which finished 12th in its debut on the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack on Nov. 30, 2013.
Since moving to grass, Ironicus has hit the board the next 10 starts, where it won the five races inclduing the Longines Dixie Stakes from Pimlico Race Course earlier this year.
Owner Stuart Janney III noted that Ironicus continues to improve and was terrificin its last couple of races.
Janney added that although its last race was slow pace and had to go wide, and Ironicus still ran wonderfully.
