Benevengo romps in the $100,000 Polynesian S.

Benevengo is an easy winner of the 2022 Polynesian S. – Jim McCue photo

Benevengo, a 3-year-old son of Gormley who was facing his elders in Saturday’s $100,000 Polynesian S. at Pimlico, dominated the competition as he rolled to a 7 ½-length win for his first stakes victory.

He is the fourth stakes horse this year for Gormley, who also was represented on Saturday at Pimlico by Moody Woman, who placed in the Weather Vane S. at the Maryland oval.

Benevengo got away clean under Angel Cruz, with the normally speedy Sea Foam having to be hustled to keep up. Benevengo carved out a sensible half-mile in :47 flat and six furlongs in 1:11.10. At the top of the stretch, Sea Foam could no longer keep up, and Benevengo rolled unopposed through the stretch to win geared down in 1:43.62 for the 1 1/16-miles.

“When I saw [Sea Foam] didn’t break good I just took the lead and hoped for a slow pace,” said Cruz. “After the half-mile, I knew it was over.”

Benevengo has won four of six starts for owner Wasabi Ventures Stables LLC and has earned $155,600. He was bred in Kentucky by Stanley Inman.