Ocean Club Skims to Narrow Victory in Noble Damsel
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Ocean Club (inside) prevails in the Noble Damsel Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Ocean Club joined the ranks of graded stakes winners when she prevailed in a three-way blanket finish to take the Noble Damsel Stakes (G3T) Sept. 21 during the Belmont at the Big A fall meeting.
Sent to post as the 2-1 favorite in the field of seven fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, Ocean Club broke on top and never relinquished command through early fractions of :23.93, :47.87, and 1:11.52.
Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., replacing the recently injured Frankie Dettori on Ocean Club, cut the daughter of Curlin loose at the top of the lane and the pair quickly opened up a 1 1/2-length lead. Fair Hill shipper Five Towns , who tracked Ocean Club throughout in third, angled out and made a bid at Ocean Club in the final eighth while Breath Away joined the fray from the far outside as the trio stormed to the wire.
Ocean Club ($6.80) held on for a head triumph over runner-up Five Towns and Breath Away in a final time of 1:34.71 for the mile over a firm turf course.
Jack Sisterson trains the Glen Hill Farm homebred, who was wheeling back in 20 days following a third-place effort in the Aug. 31 Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) at Kentucky Downs.
"I think she's a filly that you have to give her her head and let her run—don't grab a hold of her," said Sisterson of Ocean Club. "Ricardo (Santana, Jr.) watched her replays and we both thought that drawn the rail, just let her jump and go forward and allow her to be comfortable whether going :46 for the half—just give her her head. It paid off perfect this afternoon."