Michael J. Moran’s Staying On launched a strong move early in Belmont Park’s homestretch and outdueled Powerofone to win the $75,000 William Entenmann Memorial Novice Stakes by three-quarters of a length on Thursday, Sept. 19. With Jeff Murphy riding for trainer Jack Fisher, Irish-bred Staying On went to the start at odds of 13.70-1 and returned $29.40 on a $2 win ticket.
Staying On, who won for the first time since a maiden score at the 2012 Radnor Hunt Races, ran the Entenmann’s 2 1/4 miles in 4:15.47 on firm turf.
Woodslane Farm’s Sharp Numbers, also trained by Fisher, passed a tiring Cat Feathers to take third money, one length behind Bill Pape’s Powerof0ne, the Entenmann’s .55-1 favorite in an entry with Pape’s Martini Brother, who never was in contention and finished sixth.
Cognashene, ridden by Jacob Roberts, shot to the lead early and found himself in company with a riderless Dr. Skip, who bobbled at the second fence and dumped jockey Jody Petty. Apparently distracted by the loose Dr. Skip, Cognashene crashed through the wing of the fourth obstacle and unseated Roberts. Magalen O. Bryant’s Sulwaan assumed the lead, but the Irish-bred stumbled over the eighth fence and was pulled up by jockey Xavier Aizpuru.
Powerofone, always in striking range, went to the front in company with owner-trainer Kate Dalton’s Cat Feathers, but Staying On charged past them to gain a narrow lead over the final fence and then fought off a game Powerofone to secure the victory.