North American Success Continues for Viadera
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
Viadera wins the Noble Damsel Stakes at Belmont Park
Juddmonte Farms' homebred Viadera continued her North American success Sept. 26 with a determined victory in the $100,000 Noble Damsel Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park.
Landing the first graded victory of her career, the 4-year-old Bated Breath filly ran down pacesetter and stablemate Blowout in deep stretch, surging up the rail to take command in the final sixteenth en route to a neck score.
Viadera was bred in England and raced through nine starts for trainer Ger Lyons in Europe, where she placed in group company, before she was sent to the U.S. stable of Chad Brown. She won her first North American race at second asking last out in the July 17 De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, and stepped up Saturday to give Brown his fifth consecutive Noble Damsel score.
Blowout, the 2-1 favorite in a field of nine, led through the early going after breaking sharply from the gate. She went a brisk quarter in :22.17, then clicked through the half in :44.85, with Viadera saving ground in seventh under Joel Rosario.
Out of the turn, Blowout continued to hold a slim lead, with Rosario urging Viadera up to an advantageous position and angling to the inside, where she picked off rivals before finding a seam near the rail.
Approaching the wire, an all-out Viadera got the lead with the fellow Brown trainee to her immediate outside, completing the race in a final time of 1:32.06 on firm turf.
"I was in a good spot and there was a lot of speed," said Rosario, who teamed with Brown for his third Noble Damsel win in four years. "For a second, I thought they were going to get away from me, but I was comfortable where I was, and I just tried to ride her from there. When it was time to go, she kicked good.
"It looked like I might have to go between horses (in the stretch), but they came off the rail and I took a chance to go to the rail and hope not to get blocked inside," he continued. "She kept coming and coming. She ran super."
Off at odds of 5-1, Viadera returned $13 on a $2 win wager. She improved her earnings to $211,441 with a 5-1-1 record from 12 starts.
"Viadera really got a great trip from Joel, and she's a fine filly in her own right. She's really put it together her last two starts with two nice wins," Brown said. "She got a great setup, saving all the ground, and I'm really proud of her."
Blowout, owned by Peter Brant and ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, was the runner-up for a third consecutive race, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Sweet Bye and Bye, who held for third after pressing the pace.
"Blowout probably ran the best race," Brown said. "The fractions were grueling, and it was hard to stomach watching it unfold but she held on gamely and nearly won. I'm so proud of her effort and surprised that any horse could hold on and battle to the wire and almost win."
Viadera is the most accomplished runner out of the winning Beat Hollow mare Sacred Shield, who also produced Crossed Baton, a listed winner in England. The mare has four winners from five starters and foaled a Camacho colt this year. She has a yearling full sister to Viadera, an unraced 2-year-old filly by Kingman named Shielding, and a winning 3-year-old gelding by Mastercraftsman named John Locke.