America Enjoys Class Relief in Turnback the Alarm
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Photo:
Chelsea Durand/NYRA
America got much needed class relief on Friday at Belmont Park and took the field gate to wire in the Grade 3, $200,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott for celebrity chef Bobby Flay, America ran in Grade 1 events in four of her last five races coming into the Turnback the Alarm, finishing no better than third.
The 4-year-old daughter of A.P. Indy surprisingly found herself on the front end on Friday, carving out moderate fractions of 23.81 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 47.32 for the half and 1:11.55 for three-quarters. Race favorite Delightful Joy weaved her way through traffic around the turn and into the stretch and was poised to take a run at the leader, but could not put a dent in America's margin as the front-running bay filly went on to a 1 ½-length triumph.
"She ran very well," said Leanna Willaford, assistant to Mott. "She got a little class relief, which is exactly what she was looking for. [Jockey] Chris [DeCarlo] had her engaged fairly early and once she gets into a stride, she carries on. He just got her in the bridle and she galloped comfortably. Our deal is to let them break out of there and don't take away anything that comes easily."
America returned $8.80 on a $2 win wager and upped her bankroll to $551,532. She completed the distance in 1:41.96.
Call Pat, exiting a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Beldame Invitational, settled for third, a half-length in front of La Madrina. Joint Return, Stiffed, Holiday's Jewel and Imposing Grace completed the order of finish.
One race prior to the Turnback the Alarm, Mountain Music Man earned his first stakes victory, taking the $100,000 Awad by 1 ½ lengths, besting a loaded field of 2-year-olds at a mile over the Widener turf course. Ridden by Manny Franco, the New York-bred Bluegrass Cat colt rode the hedge from the middle of the pack and dug in for the win. Winner of his first start against state-bred maiden company on the dirt in September, Mountain Music Man is undefeated in his two starts for owners Robert and Lawana Low and trainer Todd Pletcher.
"He sat right off the pace and Manny did a good job getting him [off the rail]," said Byron Hughes, assistant to Pletcher. "He made a winning move and looked good doing it. We worked him twice over this turf and he seemed to really like it. Given his pedigree, and since we had an opportunity to breeze him over the turf, we thought it was a good chance [to try turf] and the timing set up for this race. It worked out well."
Mountain Music Man completed the mile in 1:37.11, returning $13.00 for a $2 win wager.
Converge was second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Pagan in third. Rappel, StrikeMidnight, Heated Verdict, Don't Be So Salty, Hotinthehamptons, Imperial Warrior, Eidmilaad and Monster Bea completed the order of finish.
Source: NYRA Press Office
"He sat right off the pace and Manny did a good job getting him [off the rail]," said Byron Hughes, assistant to Pletcher. "He made a winning move and looked good doing it. We worked him twice over this turf and he seemed to really like it. Given his pedigree, and since we had an opportunity to breeze him over the turf, we thought it was a good chance [to try turf] and the timing set up for this race. It worked out well."
Mountain Music Man completed the mile in 1:37.11, returning $13.00 for a $2 win wager.
Converge was second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Pagan in third. Rappel, StrikeMidnight, Heated Verdict, Don't Be So Salty, Hotinthehamptons, Imperial Warrior, Eidmilaad and Monster Bea completed the order of finish.
Source: NYRA Press Office
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