LAUREL, MD. 11-10-12---The gate opened, Whiskey Romeo shot to the lead and essentially, the inaugural running of the $125,000 James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel Park was over.

Cruising under the finish line in 1:11.70 for the six furlong distance on the fast main track, the Tony Dutrow trainee was being gently geared down under jockey Stewart Elliott as he beat Amerigo Vespucci by 7-1/2 lengths, with Alpha Mike Foxtrot another 1-3/4 lengths back in third.

“It was very impressive,” Elliott said. “I let him run a little bit the last part but wrapped up on him at the end. I worked him a couple times and knew he has some talent. He looked like he was the speed of the race so the plan was to get to the front and he did it easy.”

Morris Bailey owns the two-year-old son of Forestry, who started the race as the 3-5 favorite off an impressive maiden victory at Parx Racing in late September.

Whiskey Romeo paid $3.20.