Wise Gal runs away from competition in Selima

Wise Gal, bred and owned by Eric Wirth and trained by Dove Houghton, drove away from her opponents impressively down the stretch to win Saturday’s $100,000 Selima Stakes, the first of seven stakes on Laurel Park’s Fall Festival of Racing program.

Ridden by Steve Hamilton, Wise Gal rallied five-wide entering the stretch before pulling away to a 4 ¼ length victory. Madame X. finished second, 1 ¼ lengths in front of Eighty Six Mets.

Wise Gal covered a firm six furlong course 1:09.43.

Wise Gal entered the Selima off a half-length victory Aug. 11 over a 5 ½ furlong Laurel turf course that Houghton admitted was a bit surprising.

“When she breezed she did everything very professional but not that fast,” Houghton said. “So you think 5 ½ on the turf, you’re looking for fast horses for that kind of race. We thought it would be nice first start for her. She won’t get dirt kicked back in her face and maybe she’ll make a run. So it was a pleasant surprise.”

There were no surprises Saturday, however, when Wise Gal rallied off a :22.88 and :46.43 pace set by Light Up the Town before driving around the competition entering the stretch.

“I thought with faster fillies in the race, I told Cowboy [Hamilton] coming in, ‘I don’t think we’re going to be as close as we were in her maiden race. But don’t let it scare you. I think she’ll come running.’ And she did.”