Cherry Lodge Gets Advantage Over Rubilinda at Belmont

Don Alberto homebred Rubilinda and Spinaway Stakes (G1) third place finisher Cherry Lodge dominated a field of nine at the betting window July 9, and the two finished 1-2 in a $77,000 allowance race on Belmont Park's turf, but not in the order expected.

Rubilinda, a 3-year-old daughter of Frankel, went off at odds of 2-5 in the filly and mare allowance after she impressed in her maiden May 27, when she broke last from the gate but steadily made progress throughout the six-furlong turf race for fillies and mares to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

The heavily backed Chad Brown trainee broke better in Sunday's seven-furlong test, but broke inward and bumped Bigkat and Camille. Rubilinda later found herself caught in traffic when she was hemmed in at the rail near the top of the turn for home. Checking abruptly, the filly was shuffled back to fifth.

Gainesway Stable's Cherry Lodge, who broke from the outside post with John Velazquez aboard, had a clear trip after sprinting to the lead, where she set fractions of :22.88, :46.19, and 1:09.44 through six furlongs. 

Jockey Jose Ortiz angled Rubilinda off the rail on the turn and finally found running room heading into the stretch on the far outside where they were able to cut Cherry Lodge's lead to 1 1/4 lengths. The final time on the firm turf was 1:21.25.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Cherry Lodge now has a record of 2-1-1 from four starts. Aside from her third place finish in the Spinaway, the 3-year-old daughter of Bernardini   also finished second in the Matron Stakes (G3) at Belmont in her previous start in October.

Gainesway purchased Cherry Lodge from the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale for $450,000 from the Valkyre Stud consignment. She is out of the Carson City mare Wilshewed.

Rubilinda is out of the Aga Khan-bred mare Rubina and has earnings of $60,400 from her first two starts.