Off Limits scores easy victory in Noble Damsel

Martin Schwartz's Off Limits rallied from last to handily best a five-horse field, capturing the 30th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Nobel Damsel for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Off as the 8-5 favorite, Off Limits stayed off the pace set by Sassy Little Lila, who went a quarter-mile in 23.67 seconds and a half in 46.78. Out of the turn, Joel Rosario moved the 5-year-old to the far outside, and the Irish bred daughter of Mastercraftsman cruised to a 4 ¾-length win on the Widener turf.

Making her North American graded stakes debut, Off Limits completed the one-mile route in 1:32.51, posting her second consecutive win and third victory in four starts for trainer Chad Brown.

"It seemed like it was an honest pace in front of me and I just listened to the instructions," said Rosario, who was making his first start aboard Off Limits. "Chad Brown told me to let her get comfortable and let her come with a run at the end and she did. She really sprinted turning for home. I tipped her on the outside turning for home and it was all her."

Off Limits paid $5.40 on a $2 win wager, increasing her career earnings to $334,680. She also improved to 4-1-1 in eight career starts at the distance and won for the second times in three races at Belmont, a stretch that included a runner-up finish in the Perfect Sting on July 1.

Brown won his second consecutive Noble Damsel after saddling Mrs McDougal last year. Off Limits has three wins and a runner-up effort since receiving a nearly nine-month break.

"I think she ran exceptionally well," said Cherie DeVaux, assistant to Brown. "Joel rode her really patiently and gave her a nice ride. The one-mile distance seems to be her affinity. Chad and Mr. Schwartz gave her some time off between this year and last year, which seems to have benefited her tremendously."

Sassy Little Lila, the 3-1 choice, held off Celestine by a head for second in her first start since running against males in the Grade 1 Fourstardave on August 12 at Saratoga Race Course. The Brad Cox trainee finished first or second for the eighth time in her last nine starts.

Celestine, also coming off a layoff, finished in the money for the third time in her last four stakes starts, including a win in the Grade 2 Honey Fox on April 1 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Christophe Clement. It was her first race since a fifth-place effort in the Grade 1 Just a Game on June 10.