Speedy Wilson © Benoit Photo

Nick Alexander's homebred Speedy Wilson and jockey Armando Ayuso prevailed by a hard-earned half length in the $176,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes Friday at Del Mar.

The winner, a son of Tough Sunday conditioned by Phil D’Amato, showed determination in defeating 7-5 favorite R Heisman, with Shea Brennan third in a line-up of eight 2-year-olds.

Speedy Wilson ran the seven furlongs in 1:23.47 and returned $10.80 to his supporters. It was his second win in four starts and was worth first prize of $99,750. He now has earnings of $156,150.

ARMANDO AYUSO (SPEEDY WILSON, winner) -- “The trip was perfect. He ran really good today. He was in the race all the way, I just had to be a passenger. I wove my way out really nice. He got to the lead playing a little bit. But he was just engaged all the time. He was waiting for horses to come to him. But give him another year and he’ll do it perfect.”

PHIL D’AMATO (Speedy Wilson, winner) – “He only does as much as he needs to do. But those are the kind of horses you like because they stick around for a while. I knew we were in for a good stretch battle from the top of the lane home because that’s (R Heisman) a really nice horse. It’s just good to see ‘Speedy’ develop and he just looks like the longer the better for him. Once we get him around two turns, which we’ll do next year, who knows.”

FRACTIONS:  :22.51  :45.65  1:10.89  1:23.47

The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Ayuso and his first in the Golden State Juvenile Stakes. He now has two stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was the second of the meet for trainer D’Amato, but his first in the Golden State Juvenile. He now has 64 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The winning owner/breeder is Nick Alexander of Santa Ynez and Del Mar, CA.