White Rose Sets Course Record in Glens Falls
Image:
Description:
Bill Mott trainee White Rose tried the Glens Falls Stakes (gr. IIT) in 2013 when it was still just a listed race, and missed by half a length.
Two years later, the Tapit mare finally found her graded victory and did so in course record time Sept. 5 at Saratoga Race Course, taking the 1 3/8-mile turf test in 2:11.46.
It was an overdue win for 9-1 White Rose, who races for Jake Ballis and long-time NBA player Rashard Lewis. In her sixth start this season, all stakes, five of them graded, the light gray runner entered Saturday's race off her best effort Aug. 8 when third in the Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes (gr. IIIT) at the Spa.
Racing fourth along the hedge under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, White Rose had pacesetter Maximova to thank for a lively tempo up front early on. The leader went a quarter-mile in :23.69 and a half in :46.70, flying up the backside with a 3 1/2-length advantage and getting three-quarters in 1:10.57.
Maximova held her advantage in the group of nine fillies and mares through the far turn, clocking a mile in 1:35.12. But after following the frontrunner around with a ground-saving trip, White Rose had edged up to third and then found running room to put in her charge down the length of the stretch.
"I had a perfect trip," Bridgmohan said. "It was pretty straightforward, got to the fence saved every inch of ground and angled off at the top of the stretch and she gave me what she had today. Obviously, (trainer Bill Mott) does a phenomenal job with her and she showed it."
Eastern Belle made a good closing effort after getting carried far wide but could not get to the winner, who held sway by three-quarters of a length. Regardez also rallied to claim third, was followed home by Lady of Gold, Evidently, Maximova, Ceisteach, Bocaiuva, and 8-5 favorite Goldy Espony.
"(It was) gorgeous, beautiful," Mott said. "I was worried there was nobody to go with Goldy Espony and they let (Maximova) run on out of there and it helped us out.
"She had a ground-saving trip the whole way, it was beautiful. I thought, even down the backside, maybe he'll (Bridgmohan) tip her out and go outside of Goldy Espony, but he went inside. He cut the corner the whole way, so really it was a great trip."
White Rose, who carried 118 pounds, improved her record to 6-4-3 from 24 starts for earnings of $558,663. She was bred in Kentucky by J.S. McDonald out of the winning multiple stakes-placed El Prado mare Garden Dance and has been through the auction ring three times, all at Keeneland.
Ballis and Lewis bought the mare for $225,000 from De Meric Sales at the 2012 Keeneland sale of 2-year-olds in training with Hidden Brook Farm acting as agent. Gary Contessa, agent, went to $160,000 for her at the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale from the Hill 'n' Dale consignment. And her first visit to the ring was as a weanling at the 2010 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, when she sold for $210,000 from the Kaizen Sales consignment to Whitechurch.