Interstatedaydream Speeds to Allaire Dupont Victory

Turning back an early stretch bid from 21-1 longshot Misty Veil , favored Interstatedaydream  inched clear late to score her first victory of 2023 in the $100,000 Allaire Dupont Distaff Stakes, the kickoff stakes race of Black-Eyed Susan Day May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.

Flurry Racing Stables' Interstatedaydream ($3.40), last year's George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) winner, had been third initially in 2023 in the March 11 Azeri Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park and later fourth in the April 21 Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. Exiting those graded events, she took command early in the 1 1/8-mile Allaire Dupont Distaff with comfortable fractions of :24.35 and :48.93 under jockey Florent Geroux, while facing only token early pressure from Falconet . 

On the second turn after three-quarters in 1:12.72, Misty Veil launched a three-wide bid to challenge, but Interstatedaydream kept her at bay for a half-length margin of victory. Misty Veil tired in the closing yards but held the place by a half-length over a rallying Le Da Vida .

The winner, a William Graham-bred 4-year-old daughter of Classic Empire   out of the Uncle Mo   mare Babcock , was timed in 1:49.32 on a fast track. Brad Cox trains Interstatedaydream, a grade 1-placed filly whose record improved to 5-2-2 in 10 starts with earnings of $604,069.

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