NEW YORK -- Acero, the lesser half of a Richard Schosberg-trained entry, led at every call and captured the $31,000 Irish Dude at Aqueduct yesterday.

Acero and highly regarded stablemate Three Chopt Road went off the odds-on favorite and returned $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10. Acero, ridden by Angel Cordero Jr., and carrying 115 pounds, finished two lengths ahead of Spruce Baby, 107, with Hugh McMahon up. Spruce Baby was another 10 lengths ahead of Three Chopt Road, 117, ridden by Herb McCauley, in the field of seven 3-year-olds and up.

The win was the third in 10 career starts for Acero, who covered 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 51 3/5 seconds for the $18,600 winner's purse. Spruce Baby paid $4.60 and $2.80.