Whiskey Romeo coasts home in the James Lewis S.

Whiskey Romeo shot to the lead right out of the gate and the 2-year-old Forestry colt cruised to a 7 1/2-length win in the inaugural running of the $125,000 James F. Lewis III S. at Laurel Park on Saturday afternoon. The dark bay is one of six stakes winners by his sire in 2012, led by Grade 1 Metropolitan H. winner Shackleford.

Cruising under the finish line in 1:11.70 for the six furlong distance on the fast main track, Whiskey Romeo was being gently geared down under jockey Stewart Elliott. The final time over Laurel’s fast main track was 1:11.70.

“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 Whiskey Romeo, who started the race as the 3-5 favorite off an impressive maiden victory at Parx Racing in late September. With the $60,000 payday, the winner now has bankrolled $87,000 in his two starts.

Bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. John Williams, Whiskey Romeo is a half-brother to Shared Property, winner of last year’s Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3). Their dam, Yoursmineours, is a two-time stakes winner of $143,290.