NEW YORK (AP) -Trainer Gary Contessa stared in disbelief at the TV monitor in the paddock at chilly Aqueduct Racetrack.
His prize 3-year-old colt Eightyfiveinafifty had bolted to the far outside during the Whirlaway Stakes on Saturday, burst through two barriers and took off in the direction of the barn area. Jockey Jorge Chavez was unseated and fell to the cold, hard dirt track.
``Oh my God,'' Contessa whispered as he took off running through the tunnel leading to the track.
It would be a few tense minutes before Contessa found out that Eightfiveinafifty had been safely caught after suffering a bloody, two-inch cut to his right hind leg and just might race again. Chavez complained of soreness, but was walking on his own before being taken to a hospital for further examination.
``He'll need a couple of stitches,'' a relieved Contessa said of his colt, and ``I'll need a Valium.''
Peppi Knows, meanwhile, took the lead approaching the quarter pole and held off Afleet Again to win the $100,000 Whirlaway by one length in his 3-year-old debut.
The speedy Eightyfiveinafifty came into the race off a 17 1/4-length win last month, and was sent off as the 3-10 favorite in the five-horse field.
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. Later, Contessa said Chavez told him that the bit had broken in the race and that he had no control of the horse.
Three Day Rush was third and Papa's Nice Cat was fourth in an early race for 3-year-olds under consideration for the Kentucky Derby. Peppi Knows, a bay gelding, has been nominated to the Derby and the other Triple Crown races.
``It worked out real good for us,'' Peppi Knows 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.''
The winning time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:47.10 over a fast track. The area dodged a winter storm with only a dusting of snow on the ground. However, there were stiff headwinds along the backstretch.
Peppi Knows, trained by Timothy Kreiser and owned by Philip J. Messina, retuned $17.40, $5.60 and $7.70. Afleet Again paid $8.40 and $9.80. Three Day Rush returned $5.50.
Peppi Knows won three of five starts as a 2-year-old, finishing second to Buddy's Saint in the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 28.
