Lady Cohiba Holds On in Glens Falls

Confidently ridden by Junior Alvarado, favored Lady Cohiba took the lead coming out of the gate and held on for a half-length victory over White Rose in the $150,000 Glens Falls, one of two stakes on Monday's closing-day card at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Christophe Clement for Live Oak Plantation, Lady Cohiba was sent though fractions of 23.75 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 47.73 for the half and 1:12.27 for three-quarters with Greed and Fear in pursuit. Rounding the turn, Lady Cohiba dispatched that rival and had enough left to turn back the oncoming challenge from the runner-up.

Lady Cohiba, a 4-year-old Broken Vow filly, completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.86 over a muddy, sealed track. The race originally was carded at 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf.

"I told Junior [Alvarado] to be on the pace or close to the pace," said Clement. "He never rushed her; he let her run her own race. She was very comfortable in front."

The 3-2 favorite, Lady Cohiba returned $5 for a $2 win bet as she earned her first victory in two starts this year. Overall, she is 4-2-2 from 11 starts with earnings of $288,525.

"[I think] she definitely will keep improving," said Alvarado. "She won on the lead, she's won from behind. I took the lead because she broke really good and it came easy. You have to take it that way, you know?"

Finishing 2 ½ lengths behind White Rose was Scampering, with Geisha Gal fourth, another 1 ¾ lengths behind. Malibu Holiday, Greed and Fear and Cash for Clunkers completed the order of finish.