Storm Cat Wins Young America By Nose

Storm Cat, disqualified after winning his last start, outlasted Danzig Connection in a long stretch drive and won the $500,000 Young America at the Meadowlands Thursday night.

Ridden by Chris McCarron, Storm Cat finished a nose in front and covered the 1 1/16th-mile stakes for 2-year-old colts in 1:43 3/5. Mogambo was another neck back in third after closing briskly along the rail.

It was the third win in five starts for the Jonathan Sheppard-trained son of Storm Bird. The winner paid $9, $4.80 and $3.80, and earned $300,000 for owner William T. Young. Danzig Connection, ridden by Pat Day, returned $4.40 and $3.20, while Mogambo, with Angel Cordero up, paid $3.20 to show.

The outcome enabled Storm Cat to gain a measure of revenge over Danzig Connection. In their last outing, Danzig Connection was awarded the World Appeal Stakes here after Storm Cat was disqualified for interference in the stretch.

Favored Groovy took the lead out of the gate, with Danzig Connection running second and Storm Cat next. It stayed that way as Groovy took the 12-horse field through the quarter in 22 4/5 seconds and the half in 46.

As the field passed six furlongs in 1:10 2/5, Danzig Connection and Storm Cat moved on the leader and quickly went to the front as Mogambo rallied from sixth place along the rail.

Storm Cat and Danzig Connection battled back and forth the length of the stretch, and it took a photo to separate them at the wire. Mogambo, who broke from the No. 12 post, was close but never looked like a winner.

Danzig Connection carried high weight of 122 pounds, three more than every other horse in the race.