Horologist Upsets Dunbar Road in Beldame
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Horologist romps home in the Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park
Horologist, the longest shot on the board in the $136,500 Beldame Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park Oct. 4, posted an easy victory over three rivals in the 1 1/8-mile main-track race for older fillies.
Owned by There's A Chance Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Medallion Racing, and Abbondanza Racing, Horologist rumbled home a three-length winner under jockey Junior Alvarado.
The New Jersey-bred 4-year-old daughter of Gemologist is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who enjoyed a stellar weekend at Belmont Park. On Oct. 3, he won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) with Channel Maker and the Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) with Frank's Rockette.
Horologist broke on top, but Letruska was sent to the lead from her rail post by jockey Kendrick Carmouche, and Alvarado was content to let his mount track the pacesetter in second position. Horologist was several lengths behind the leader as they headed into the far turn, and Letruska had been motoring on the front end, putting up fractions of :23.10, :45.52, and 1:09.05.
Horologist began to cut into that advantage around the turn and by the three-sixteenths pole was rolling on by Letruska, who was taxed from her early efforts and finished fourth and last. Point of Honor finished second and was followed by the even-money favorite, Dunbar Road.
"I waited until the five-sixteenths just to check a little and see where she was," Alvarado said. "When I tapped her on the shoulder and she lowered her head instead of picking it up, I wasn't sure how much I had, but I wanted to use what I had to open up."
Horologist and jockey Junior Alvarado return to the winner's circle after taking the Beldame Stakes
The final time on the fast track was 1:49.01.
The winner returned $16.20 for a $2 win wager.
Bred by Holly Crest Farm, Horologist is the first foal out of the Stephen Got Even mare Cinderella Time. The filly elevated her earnings to $695,439. She has a record of 7-2-4 from 19 starts.
This was Horologist's third start for Mott, who won the Beldame for a third time. She came to Mott's barn from Richard Baltas, who conditioned the filly in California. Prior to that, she was trained by the late John Mazza, who died this year at 82. Horologist broke her maiden for Mazza in her debut at Monmouth Park in 2018 when she won a state-bred race by 20 3/4 lengths.
Since coming under Mott's care, Horologist also won the July 18 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park and was third in the Sept. 4 La Troienne Stakes Presented by Oak Grove Racing and Gaming (G1) in her start before the Beldame.
"(Horologist) was nominated for the Spinster (G1) and there was a suggestion we go there after Midnight Bisou didn't go in there, but I didn't want to make another trip with her," Mott said. "Junior said he felt like they were going too fast, and then he heard (Dunbar Road) coming, so he shook her up a little bit and she was right there. When (Dunbar Road) started moving up on the backside, I thought she was going to inhale them."
Mott said that the owners of Horologist "made the decision not to supplement" the filly to the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 7.