Lady Paname Right at Home in Long Island Stakes

Two starts into the North American portion of her career, Lady Paname has used her grit to cause her rivals a fair amount of strife.

The pattern of European imports finding new life in the barn of two-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown got another link added to it on Nov. 24 when Lady Paname came surging three-wide down the middle of the course to capture the $400,000 Long Island Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack by a half-length over Tricky Escape.

The 4-year-old daughter of Solider of Fortune was group 3 placed in her native France but had dropped her last five starts when she was purchased for $470,960 out of 2017 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale—English Version.  Brown took his time getting the filly right for new owners Madaket Stables, James Covello, Kent Spellman, and Doheny Racing Stable and when she finally resurfaced at Belmont Park Oct. 17 in a 1 1/4-mile allowance race, she showed her turn of foot and prevailed by a nose.

The 1 3/8-mile Long Island Stakes featured more of the same from the gray filly, who carried 7-2 backing from the betting public against 10  rivals. She faced a mild scare at the start when 21-1 shot Pamina stumbled badly right next to her out of post 8, unseating jockey Edgar Prado, but Irad Ortiz Jr. got Lady Paname settled in seventh through the opening quarter mile as Lady Montdore set an early pace of :25.48.

"I got a perfect trip. She relaxed so well," Ortiz said. "She appreciated the distance. Last time she went a mile and a quarter. That's not her. At Belmont, she looked so good, but she improved today from the last race. Now in her second race, she was much better."

Fellow Brown-trainee Night of England got aggressive and raced up to overtake Lady Montdore to lead the half in :50.46 and maintained a clear advantage down the backside until Tricky Escape and Lady Montdore tried to put the pressure on her around the far turn. Night of England was still game in late stretch but her stablemate was moving best of all in the final furlong.

"She's a horse that's developed and come along nicely for us," Brown said of Lady Paname. "We bought this horse with good intentions and unfortunately, she suffered from some issues right away. I have to thank the ownership group for being patient. We gave her a lot of time off. I also have to thank Bruce Jackson at Fair Hill (Equine Therapy Center). He did a terrific job rehabbing her for us and he's a big part of our team and helped her get to where she's at today."

Lady Paname covered the distance in 2:16.15 over a course rated firm, earning her third career win from eight starts. Tricky Escape finished another half length in front of third-place finisher Danceland with Si Que Es Buena hitting the wire fourth. Lady Montdore, the 5-2 favorite, faded to seventh.

Both Pamina and Prado appeared to escape injury from the incident at the start.

Lady Paname was bred in France by Elie Lellouche and Francis Teboul and is out of the Aussie Rules mare Business Class.

"It just took her a little time to get here and the patience by everyone involved was really rewarded today," Brown said. "I'm really proud of the horse."