Vino Rouge proves best in tough Aqueduct MdSpWt

Vino Rosso, who had a terrific September, began the month of October with another sharp winner on the first day of the month when Vino Rouge won a one-mile maiden special weight race at Aqueduct.

The Spendthrift stallion, who is currently fifth on the First-Crop sire list, now has a dozen individual winners of 16 races, including two-time stakes winner The Wine Steward.

Vino Rouge, who was making her main track debut, came out of the gate well and was locked in a four-way battle for the backstretch run. She backed off slightly going into the turn as she hugged the rail around the bend. In the homestretch, she steadily advanced up the fence and with one final surge took the lead in deep stretch to win by a half-length.

The winner races for Harold Lerner LLC and Team D, who purchased her for $180,000 out of the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling sale.

Vino Rouge was bred in Kentucky by Payson Stud and is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Janis Joplin.