Dame Dorothy Speeds to Bed O' Roses Victory
Image:
Description:
Bobby Flay's Dame Dorothy added another victory to her already-impressive résumé with a 1 1/2-length win in the $150,000 Bed O' Roses Handicap (gr. III) June 20 at Belmont Park.
The 4-year-old daughter of Bernardini is now two-for-two at Belmont and four-for-four at the Bed O' Roses distance of seven furlongs, where she also won the Humana Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs last time out May 2. Jockey Javier Castellano was aboard for both victories.
Dame Dorothy received a lucky break when apparent pace-setter Room for Me lunged at the start and was left at the gate by the rest of the five-horse field.
That allowed the Dame Dorothy, trained by Todd Pletcher, to settle into an easy lead, opening up fractions of :23.96 and :47.65 through a half-mile, while Street Story stalked a length back.
"I didn't expect to be on the lead, but after (Room for Me) didn't break out of the gate, I took a shot," Castellano said. "When the only speed horse didn't break, I was able to dictate the pace."
Whispering Oaks Farm's Street Story provided a challenge in the stretch, nearly going head-to-head with Dame Dorothy, but the 3-5 favorite battled back on the rail to prevail by a comfortable margin. Longshot Expression (14-1) was six lengths back in third.
La Verdad, another speed threat who was 2-1 on the morning line, was also a key scratch before the race. Room for Me finished fourth, followed by Tahoe Tigress.
"The race didn't unfold as we anticipated it would, when Room for Me missed the break, but anyways, it worked out well," Pletcher said. "Certainly, with La Veradad coming out, it was a significant scratch. When we originally picked up the overnight, we didn't anticipate being on the lead, but it worked out."
Dame Dorothy finished off the seven furlongs in 1:24.19 and paid $3.50, $2.20, and $2.10 across the board. Street Story brought $3.40 and $2.60. Expression delivered $3.20 to show.
Bred in Pennsylvania by Derry Meeting Farm, out of the Woodman mare Vole Vole Monamour, the filly now has $709,740 in earnings and a 7-1-1 record from nine career starts.
"My filly likes to be competitive," Castellano said. "Every time we see a horse, she goes forward."