NEW YORK (AP) -Peppi Knows won the $100,000 Whirlaway Stakes at chilly Aqueduct Racetrack after favorite Eightyfiveinafifty bolted through the outside rail on the first turn and unseated jockey Jorge Chavez.
The frightening spill Saturday resulted in Chavez being taken to a hospital complaining of soreness and Eightyfiveinafifty being safely caught in the barn area suffering from a bloody, 2-inch cut to his right hind leg.
``He'll need a couple of stitches, I'll need a Valium,'' Eightyfiveinafafty's trainer Gary Contessa said. ``I'm completely mystified as to what happened.''
Chavez was conscious and walking around before leaving for the hospital, New York Racing Association officials said.
Eightyfiveinafifty was dueling for the lead along the inside rail at the start, then suddenly swung to the far outside. Coming out of the first turn, the colt ran through a temporary railing, then another rail as Chavez fell hard on the dirt track.
Contessa said his colt's bit was broken and the rein was shredded, but he wasn't sure whether it happened during the race or after Eightyfiveinafifty bolted.
Peppi Knows, meanwhile, took the lead approaching the quarter pole and held off Afleet Again to win by one length in his 3-year-old debut. Three Day Rush was third and Papa's Nice Cat was fourth in an early race for colts that could move on to the Kentucky Derby trail.
The gelded son of Stephen Got Even, Peppi Knows has been nominated to the Derby and the other Triple Crown races.
``It worked out real good for us,'' his jockey Richard Migliore said. ``We got to save ground when the other horse didn't make the turn. He's just a real nice, handy little horse.''
Peppi Knows covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.10 over a fast track. The area averted a winter storm with only a dusting of snow on the ground, but there were stiff headwinds along the backstretch.
Peppi Knows, trained by Timothy Kreiser and owned by Philip J. Messina, returned $17.40, $5.60 and $7.70. Afleet Again paid $8.40 and $9.80, and Three Day Rush returned $5.50
The speedy Eightyfiveinafifty came into the race off a dazzling 17 1/4-length win over six furlongs last month. He was sent off as the 3-10 favorite.
Peppi Knows won three of five starts as a 2-year-old, finishing second to Buddy's Saint in the Remsen three months ago.
