Fuel Cell did it the hard way from post position No. 5. He watched from fifth as the 4-5 choice, Calchips Brute (George Brennan), worked around the lass Mymomsablizzard (Larry Stalbaum) and through early fractions of :28.4 and :59.1.
After the intermission, Fuel Cell took up the chase, which continued in and out of a 1:28.3 three-quarters. It was Calchips Brute maintaining a slim lead entering the lane, but he was about to give way grudgingly. Mymomsablizzard ducked in while Fuel Cell continued his inexorable advance.
That advance led him to the winner's circle by one-half length, in 1:58. Mymomsablizzard just did best Calchips Brute for second and Master Pine (Jim Pantaleano) and Perfect Picture (Jordan Stratton) rounded out the payees.
For fifth choice, Fuel Cell, a 6-year-old Mutineer gelding owned by Lee Cotroneo and trained by Brandon Todd, it was his second consecutive win in three season’s starts. The exacta paid $102.00, with the triple returning $274.50.
The ladies' legion saw Queen Of Royalty win both the draw and the race. In play from the pole, she eventually yielded to an encouraged Warrawee Koine (Jason Bartlett) after a :27.4 opening quarter-mile. With a :58 half it was Sears again trying it first-up, this time chauffeuring the second move of Moonlit Dragon.
That one pulled from fourth and engaged the leader down the backside toward a 1:25.4 three-quarters.
Warrawee Koine was up a stubborn schnoz turning for home. She was tough before eventually abdicating to a passing lane "Queen" by a neck, in 1:54.3. Argument Hanover (Matt Kakaley), the slight, 5-2 choice Chief Karen (Larry Stalbaum), and Moonlit Dragon grabbed the remainder.
For the seventh choice, Queen Of Royalty, a 9-year-old daughter of Albert Albert owned and trained by Allen Sisco, it was her second consecutive win in four '13 tries. The exacta paid $209.00, the triple returned $1,306.00 and the superfecta paid $3,094.00. The lass went over the half-million career earnings plateau with the win.