White Rose Digs in to Take Dowager

Jake Ballis and Rashard Lewis’ White Rose emerged from a five-horse scramble in the final 50 yards to win the 23rd running of the $125,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager for fillies and mares by a nose over Caroline Thomas before a sun-bathed Sunday afternoon crowd of 16,180.

 

Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, White Rose ran the 1½ miles on a firm turf course in 2:31.34. The victory was the third in the race for Mott, who won last year with Preferential (GB) and in 2005 with Briviesca (GB).

 

I O Ireland set an uncontested pace with only token pressure from Frivolous in the field of 14 through the first mile as White Rose raced in midpack. On the far turn, Frivolous went after 

I O Ireland and took the lead into the stretch as the pack began to close in.

 

Bridgmohan had White Rose in the five path in the stretch and in the clear, taking over in deep stretch. To White Rose’s inside, Joe Rocco Jr. sent Caroline Thomas between Cat’s Claw and Frivolous and just fell short of catching the winner.

 

Winner of the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon in her previous start, White Rose is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Tapit out of the El Prado (IRE) mare Garden Dance.

 

The victory was worth $75,000 and increased White Rose’s earnings to $392,899 with a record of 17-5-4-2.

 

White Rose, a Keeneland sale graduate, returned $18.60, $7.20 and $5.20. Caroline Thomas returned $4.40 and $3.80 as the favorite and finished a half-length in front of Appealing Cat, who paid $6.80 to show under Rosie Napravnik.

 

Finishing a neck back in fourth was Cat’s Claw, who was followed in order by Frivolous, Ann of the Dance, Inimitable Romanee, Sky High Lady, Charlie Em (GB), Left a Message, La Malaguena, Topic, I O Ireland and First Romance.

 

Racing resumes Wednesday with an eight-race program that begins at 1:05 p.m. ET.

 

Source: Keeneland Communications