National Identity lands elusive stakes win in $135K Say Florida Sandy

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s National Identity was beaten by the narrowest of margins in three consecutive stakes last winter, but there were few tense moments on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack as he drove home a decisive 1 3/4-length winner over Acoustic Ave in the seven-furlong $135,000 Say Florida Sandy for older New York-breds.

Trained by Danny Gargan, the 4-year-old son of Solomini brought his win streak to four-in-a-row, adding to a trio of local allowance-level scores that were led by a last-out 4 1/4-length score against open company traveling 6 1/2 furlongs on January 4. In December 2024, he was headed out of victory in the $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way over course and distance, and finished a respective neck and nose second in the Damon Runyon and Gander.

National Identity landed a distant third in the NYSSS Times Square in April here and returned in September off a more than five-month respite to begin his current win streak following a tie-back procedure on his throat.

"Since he came back from the tie-back, he's been really good,” Gargan said. “He's always been a talented horse. We just got unfortunate last year that his throat went bad on him. He would've won those races last year, he was only getting about 60 percent of his airway, but the tie back worked. He's come back strong. He's really good right now.”

Ridden to victory by Kendrick Carmouche, National Identity was sharp from post 3-of-7 and was part of an early scramble for command between him, El Grande O and the Ricardo Santana, Jr.-piloted The Wine Steward. National Identity stuck his head in front leaving the chute and marked the opening quarter-mile in 23.41 seconds over the fast footing, with the Linda Rice-trained pair of El Grande O and the Jose Lezcano-piloted Acoustic Ave, as well as The Wine Steward keeping close watch. 

"My intention wasn't to go because I thought the Lezcano horse was a good horse running against really good older horses,” Carmouche explained. “I was seeing what Santana was going to do but he didn't break as sharp, and I said, 'well, I'm going to go.' Once I got the first quarter in 23 [and change], I let him run into the turn and the race was over. Only one horse could have beat me was the two horse from there. He ran perfect.”

Carmouche let National Identity out a notch heading into the turn and put a gap between him and the Rice runners while Quick to Accuse launched a rally widest of all from the rear of the field as the half-mile elapsed in 46.97. The rail-skimming Acoustic Ave pulled away from his stablemate and a stalling The Wine Steward heading into the lane, but National Identity was finding plenty as he held a three-length advantage.

Carmouche angled his charge in near the top of the stretch and Jose Lezcano altered course to swing Acoustic Ave to the outside for the final eighth, but National Identity held sway through three-quarters in 1:11.52 and repelled one last lunge from Acoustic Ave to cross the wire first and complete the course in 1:24.80.

Quick to Accuse finished 3 3/4 lengths behind Acoustic Ave in third with Dr. Kraft rounding out the superfecta. General Banker, El Grande O and The Wine Steward completed the order of finish.

Gargan said the versatile National Identity, whose win streak includes wins from both off the pace and right on it, was able to adapt to the track conditions today.

“He didn't really want to be up on the front end, but speed has been really good all day,” Gargan said. “I told Kendrick that he'll have to be up on it. I think he is better from off of it, but with the way the track is playing, we couldn't take any risks. He came out of there running and ran really good. He's really good right now. It is hard to win four in a row with a horse.”

Gargan added that the one-turn mile $135,000 Haynesfield for older New York-breds on March 29 here “could be an option.”

Lezcano said Acoustic Ave, who entered from a local six-furlong open-company optional claiming win on January 23, was game in defeat.

"He broke good, but the other horse had speed, too,” Lezcano said. “I sat a little and when I asked him, he responded and gave me a good race. He ran his race today. I didn't want to go too hard early so I could give my horse a chance to finish."

Bred by Hunter Valley Farm, National Identity was a $150,000 purchase at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale. He banked $74,250 in victory while returning $4.82 for a $2 win ticket as the 7-5 mutuel favorite. 

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with an eight-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.  

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