Isabelle Wires Bouwerie for First Stakes Win

William Schettine's Isabelle struck out for the early lead and got it in the $125,000 Bouwerie Stakes May 31 at Belmont Park, skipping away with a 1 1/2-length victory after a slow start cost favorite Henry's Gal the advantage .

Up sharply from post 3 under Alex Solis, the 3-year-old daughter of Successful Appeal   whipped through an opening quarter in :22.21 and a half in :44.75, leaving eight other New York-bred fillies in her wake. The 5-2 second choice struck the turn for home clear by about 1 1/2 lengths while clocking three-quarters in 1:09.03, widened her advantage through the top of the lane, and held safely over 22-1 shot Storied Lady in a final time of 1:22.20 on the fast main track.

"We always thought she was nice; she keeps improving more and more," Solis said. "Today she ran them off their feet. She has a high cruising speed and just did her thing."

Flipcup closed for third, while 19-10 pick Henry's Gal had to settle for fourth. Ms. Sylvia A., Champagne Ruby, Prairie Stone, and Elmra completed the order of finish in the seven-furlong restricted event.

Isabelle returned $7, $4.70, and $3.30. Storied Lady brought $14 and $6.70, while Flipcup brought $2.80.

Isabelle came off her front-running May 9 maiden win for trainer Lisa Lewis, which she aced by 12 1/2 lengths at third asking in the Belmont slop, to secure her first stakes score.

"Even if it's a New York-bred race you still hate going from the maiden ranks to a stake," Lewis said. "It was three weeks back from a big, big effort, so I was definitely concerned about that. The extra furlong, too, and she's so fast I knew it'd be hard to keep her rated.

"The main thing with her is getting her to settle, but she's making everyone look good. Alex (Solis) is great that way. He works with this barn. Nobody has breezed the filly except him. When she's getting all silly, like she does, he doesn't get upset by it. He's like, 'Oh, it's Isabelle.'"

Bred by Bluegrass Farm Partners and Jeffrey Tucker out of the Gold Fever mare Merrill Gold, she was a $100,000 purchase from the 2012 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga select yearling sale when consigned by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services.

The Bouwerie triumph improves the bay filly's record to a duo of wins and a second from four starts, good for earnings of $131,700.