Afleet Express turned in a stellar performance at Belmont on May 22nd, cruising to a 7 3/4-length victory and earning an impressive 107 Beyer Speed Figure. For the 3-year-old son of Afleet Alex, it was his second win in four lifetime starts.

Afleet Express, a half-brother to the stakes winner Reporting for Duty, was sent off the 7-5 favorite, a generous number in retrospect. Javier Castellano had his mount in second just off the heels of pacesetter Storm On the Moon for the first five furlongs, then went to the lead at the head of the stretch and galloped away from his pursuers in the stretch. Afleet Express stopped the timer in 1:21 3/5, a little more than a second off the track record.

Trained by Jimmy Jerkens, Afleet Express is now 2-1-0 in four starts. He broke his maiden at first asking at Aqueduct last December, then was second in a troubled trip at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 30. His lifetime earnings stand at $65,140 for owners Gainesway Stable and Martin L. Cherry.

“We always thought he was a special horse,” said Jerkens. “We naturally hope he can become one of the best 3-year-olds in the country.”

Gainesway consigned Afleet Express to the 2008 Keeneland January All Ages sale, where he brought $245,000.

Afleet Alex reigns as North America's leading second-crop sire of 2010. Besides Afleet Express, he is the sire of Grade 1 winner Dublin, Grade 2 winner Cuqui's Love, Grade 3 winners Afleet Again and Queen Afleet, and $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks winner Harissa.