Jimmy Creed’s Joey Freshwater comes up big in Bay Shore S. (G3)

Joey Freshwater earned his first graded stakes win in Saturday’s $200,000 Bay Shore S. (G3) with a gritty effort to give the 3-year-old son a 1 ¼-length win in the seven-furlong contest at Aqueduct.

Ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, Joey Freshwater broke very quickly then settled behind a pair of dueling leaders for the backstretch run. Going three wide around the turn, he made his way around the frontrunners to take a narrow lead at the top of the stretch. Victory Way tried to hang with the new leader, but gave way in the final furlong when Joey Freshwater was relentless in the drive.

“He stalked from second beautifully when he [Carmouche] won on him before,” trainer Linda Rice said. “I was hoping we’d get a set-up like that where he broke well enough to be in good position and could stalk off a little duel rather than have to press the pace himself. Great race, great ride, nice horse.”

Owned by the Winning Move Stable, Joey Freshwater has won three of six starts and earned $210,950.

The winner was bred by Dr. Aaron Jones, Dr. Naoya Yoshida and Dr. Eric Crawford. He is the first foal out of Lake Turkana, while his third dam is Grade 1 winner Serra Lake.

Joey Freshwater is Jimmy Creed’s fifth stakes horse this year and is his 22^nd lifetime stakes winner.

Rice said Joey Freshwater’s next start would likely be the Woody Stephens (G1) on June 10 at Belmont Park.