Annecdote Goes Last to First in Noble Damsel
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George Bolton and Peter Leidel's Annecdote, in her first start in the United States, went from last to first in a field of nine to win the $200,000 Noble Damsel Stakes (gr. IIIT) for fillies and mares Sept. 13 at Belmont Park .
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Christophe Clement, Annecdote, a group III winner in Great Britain, seemed to relish the turf made moist from rain to win for the sixth time in 14 starts. The 4-year-old Great Britain-bred filly by Lucky Story out of the Zilzal mare May Fox was bred by the Honorable Mrs. R. Pease.
Byrama, who defeated all but Annecdote to finish second, set the pace through fractions of :23.65 for the opening quarter-mile, :47.46 for a half-mile, and 1:11.49 for six furlongs on a course rated firm despite rain. Byrama, racing along the inside, couldn't contain the closing Annecdote, who rallied on the far outside to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:35.09 for one mile on the grass. Julie's Love finished third, a neck behind Byama.
"It really was no surprise because she had been training so well in the morning," Clement said. "She always showed a great turn of foot. She had been training with a friend of mine in England. It's easy when people find you with that kind of horse."
Ortiz said though the course was rated fast, it was moist.
"The track is very soft right now, so I just dropped the hands and tried to cover up," Ortiz said. "When I asked her, I had a lot of horse. I didn't want to be too close today because I saw there was a lot of speed in the race. That was my plan: try to make one run in the last couple of furlongs."
Annecdote paid $10.20, $5.80, and $4 across the board, while Byama returned $7.10 and $4.80. Julie's Love paid $7.30 to show. The $2 exacta paid $72.50 and the $2 trifecta $537.
Baffle Me was fourth, edging Tokyo Time, a lukewarm favorite at 3-1 who never got rolling and checked in fifth. Devilish Love, Love Train, Medea, and Alaura Michele completed the order.
Annecdote, racing on furosemide for the first time, had won stakes and handicaps, including the group III Betfred Oak Tree Stakes on turf at Goodwood in England at 3. In her previous start the filly finished 10th in the group II Duke of Cambridge Stakes on grass at Royal Ascot.