NEW YORK (AP) Ironicus followed his victory in the Dixie Stakes with an easy triumph as the heavy favorite Wednesday in the $85,000 allowance feature on the turf at Belmont Park.
The Dixie on the Preakness undercard was the first stakes win for the gray 4-year-old trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. The latest victory by the 2-5 shot was a tuneup for Saratoga, and a possible run in the Fourstardave Stakes on Aug. 15.
Ironicus pounced on the leaders with a four-wide move turning for home and steadily advanced to beat the pacesetting Tetradrachm by 1 1/4 lengths. Cornelio Velasquez was aboard for the mile in 1:32.71 on the firm course.
Now 4 for 9, Ironicus paid $2.90, $2.10 and $2.10.
Tetradrachm returned $4.50 and $4.80, and Our Emerald Forest paid $6.20 to show.
Cozmic One, the first foal of 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, is winless in two tries after finishing seventh in a maiden race on the card. Zenyatta started her career with 19 consecutive wins, losing only the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic - her final race.
