Teresa Z Wins Turnback the Alarm With Stalking Trip
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Annette Jasko
Teresa Z pulls away to a six-length score in the Turnback the Alarm at Aqueduct
St. Elias Stable's Teresa Z stalked the early speed and made a strong move out of the final turn before gearing down for a six-length win in the $150,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) Nov. 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Out of the gate Bishop's Pond did the heavy lifting and led the six-horse field though the opening quarter-mile in :24.14 and the half in :48.86 on the harrowed main track labeled good.
Under jockey Trevor McCarthy, Teresa Z stayed to the inside coming out of the clubhouse turn and continued with a ground-saving trip up the backstretch. After she briefly faded to last, McCarthy angled Teresa Z out nearing the far turn and she overtook all challengers, including Forever Liesl at the top of the stretch, to cruise to the wire. She completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.68.
"I was able to sit in a nice stalking spot after the break," McCarthy said. "(I) saved all the ground, and in the second turn she was just so much the best. I just let everybody go and got her out as soon as I could. She likes to be outside of horses. It seems that's the way she likes to run. When she gets that big stride of hers going, nobody's catching her."
The victory marked trainer Anthony Margotta Jr.'s first graded stakes score at a New York Racing Association track since Silver Fox won the 1995 New York Stuyvesant Handicap (G3) at the Big A.
The 4-year-old Smart Strike filly improved her record to 5-2-4 from 17 starts and her bankroll to $382,820.
Bred by Besilu Stables, Teresa Z's third dam is Hall of Fame runner Personal Ensign, who went 13-for-13 in her career, with eight grade 1 wins including a victory in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).
"We thought this would be the best spot to get another win into her," Margotta said. "She's very well bred. Her third dam is Personal Ensign, who 30 years ago ... won the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) for her 13th win in a row. So this was a very important day for the St. Elias team and we're very grateful."
Forever Liesl, trained by Michelle Nevin, finished six lengths clear of Holy Helena for second in her first stakes start since she finished third in the Aug. 19 Summer Colony Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
Bishop's Pond, Arraign, and Moonlit Garden completed the order of finish.