Pininci stuns Beaufine Stakes field
Ambitious plans were announced for five-year-old Pininci after he scored an upset win over hot favourite Smoko in today's $100,000 Beaufine Stakes (1000m) at Belmont Park.
The David Harrison-trained Pininci, ridden by Patrick Carbery, defied a $31 to $41 betting drift when he charged home from fifth at the turn.
He defeated Smoko, who firmed from $1.70 to $1.60, by a length.
Smoko, unbeaten in five previous starts, showed courage to battle on tenaciously after being trapped three-wide.
Recode ran third in the Beaufine and Magnifisio fourth.
Pininci's targets are likely to include the $100,000 H G Bolton Sprint (1200m) on July 26 and the $100,000 Belmont Newmarket (1200m) on August 9.
Harrison said the $100,000 Summer Scorcher (1000m) on January 1 would be among Pininci's Ascot carnival missions.
Pininci was the second consecutive Beaufine Stakes victor for Harrison and Carbery, who won last year with Settle Strada.
Harrison said Pininci, who stepped up in class to tackle the Beaufine would be a contender for winter and summer feature sprints.
"He's always been considered a 1000-metre horse," Harrison said. "But he finished strongly today and I think he's ready to win over 1200 metres.
"After the Belmont Newmarket, his long-term aim will be the Summer Scorcher."
Pininci capped a top day for the in-form Harrison, who had a three-horse team at Belmont.
His other runners Benito and Jest Envy Her had earlier finished first and second, respectively, in the Westspeed Nominations Close On 18 July Handicap (1000m).
Harrison is taking a brief holiday and his foreman Brock Lewthwaite saddled the trio of Belmont runners.
Benito, who set the pace after being backed from $7 to $5, gave Carbery the first leg of a treble.
He also won on the fast-finisher Trade Down, a $3.80 favourite, in the Belmont Park Midweek Races To Singapore Handicap (1400m).
"Trade Down has won his last three races in great style and is an Ascot carnival prospect," trainer George Daly said.
A bright future is predicted for Crown Lawyer, backed from $8 to $5 and an all-the-way winner in the Get Your Westspeed Nominations In Now Handicap (1400m).
"He'll be set for summer races," said trainer Neville Parnham, whose son Chris rode Crown Lawyer.
The trainer said he decided Crown Lawyer should lead and try to sprint away from better fancied rivals in the straight.
"Plans worked out and he won comfortably," Neville Parnham said.
Apprentice Lucy Warwick maintained a run of success when winning on front runner Rive Gauche, backed from $5 to $4 in the Legrand Excel Life Handicap (2100m).
