High Quality Scores at Fair Grounds

Amerman Racing Stables’ High Quality pressed the pace most of the way in Friday’s $53,000 allowance optional claiming feature for older fillies and mares at Fair Grounds, appeared beaten briefly by Chrysalis Stables’ favored Silver La Belle in the late stages of the 1 1/16-mile test taken off the grass and run on the main track but then rallied gamely outside of that one to be best by a neck.

Trained by Paul McGee and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., High Quality accomplished the distance in 1:43.29, increased her career earnings to $108,995 with her third win in 11 lifetime starts and returned mutuels of $11.40, $4.80 and $3.60.

Silver La Belle, always well placed, took command inside the furlong grounds, could not withstand the second surge of the winner but easily held the place, paying $3 and $2.20 while finishing three lengths to the good of Keith Plaisance’s Palazzo Babe, who returned $6.20 to show after setting the pace with early splits of 24.96 and 49.20.