Dame Dorothy stays perfect in the Turnback The Alarm

When last seen, the Todd Pletcher-trained Dame Dorothy returned from a sizable layoff to score a facile four-length victory in a listed stakes at Presque Isle Downs. It was a fine return performance for the highly regarded and unbeaten three-year-old filly, but it did little to prove her overall class. Today, some 2 ½ months since that one, we learned a little more about the bay daughter of Bernardini, as she made her first foray into Graded Stakes company, as well as her initial try against older, a winning one with a stylish half-length score in the Grade 3 Turnback The Alarm Handicap at Belmont Park. In the process, Dame Dorothy improved her record to a perfect 4-for-4.

Sent off as the 7-2 third choice in the field of eight, Dame Dorothy waited handily under rider Javier Castellano, while long shot Flores Island made the early lead with Teen Pauline in pursuit, through a half mile in 48.17.  She moved up on the backstretch, but had to steady behind the second place runner before the field hit the far turn.

Undeterred, she moved to the outside and into prime striking distance on the bend. Once in the stretch, she quickly took over from the early leaders, and scooted clear with a powerful acceleration. She did look just a bit tired inside the eighth pole, but Dame Dorothy had plenty of class in reserve to keep the late rally of Catch My Drift from causing serious worry as they approached the wire. Final time for the 1 1/16-mile race on the fast track was 1:43.50.

On the backside, I had to steady a little bit, and tried to angle her outside and keep her in the clear,” said Castellano. “That was the key to winning the race. I've always liked her; she does things the right way. I love the filly because she's undefeated. Whatever you ask her for, she gives you."

A $390,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase for celebrity chef Bobby Flay, Dame Dorothy was bred in Pennsylvania by Derry Meeting Farm. Out of the Woodman mare Vole Vole Monamour, she is a half-sister to the multiple Grade 1 winner Mrs. Lindsay, who made her hay running a distance of ground on the grass.

"She's obviously a filly we've held in high regard since her 2-year-old year,” said Pletcher. “Bobby [Flay] has been very patient with her. We felt like we had a very talented filly and she's taken a little while to get to this point, but it's very gratifying that we have. We'll look at the Comely [November 29, Aqueduct Racetrack] and go from there."

She’s missed the Kentucky Oaks, and the Breeders’ Cup this year, but the ceiling for Dame Dorothy would seem extremely high. She’s won by daylight, and she’s won in races where she’s had to fight. She’s won on fast and sloppy tracks, as well as the synthetic surface found at Presque Isle. She’s won impressively at one-turn, and at two. Bred to be a good one, Dame Dorothy looks to be a major force in the distaff set if she can stay healthy and string a series of races together. Her famous owner is looking forward to her bright future.

"Her performance was terrific,” said Flay. “You never know - it was her first time against older horses. She's a 3-year-old. Obviously, it's late in the year, but horses like Teen Pauline and Endless Chatter are really good fillies, so for her to be able to beat them in the fashion she did today is really thrilling. Todd said this was going to be a prep for the Comely. We're looking forward to running her against straight 3-year-olds; it should be a good day of racing - Cigar Mile Day."