By the Moon topples Wavell Avenue in Bed o' Roses
June 25th, 2016
Saving ground in fifth as West Coast Chick and Mayla dueled through splits of :23.26 and :46.10, By the Moon dove through an opening under Jose Ortiz and kicked clear of Wavell Avenue, who settled for second after making a five-wide bid for the lead turning for home. Winless in three starts since the Breeders' Cup, the even-money favorite was three parts of a length ahead of Bar of Gold.
Trained by Michelle Nevin, By the Moon paid $6.40 after completing seven furlongs in 1:21.98 on a fast track.
This was the third race By the Moon has run at Belmont, who captured the 2014 Frizette (G1) and finished second by a neck to Curalina in last year's Acorn (G1) in two prior visits.
In addition to the Frizette, By the Moon also captured the $100,000 Caesars Wish at Laurel at three. The dual Grade 1-placed filly kicked off this season with a fourth in the Distaff H. (G3) at Aqueduct in mid-April.
Bred by owner Samantha Siegel, the four-year-old by Indian Charlie has compiled a record of 11-4-3-1, $790,440.
In other graded stakes action for fillies and mares on Saturday, Isabella Sings toyed with six rivals in taking the $103,000 Eatontown (G3) at Monmouth Park.
The 2-5 favorite in the in the 1 1/16-mile turf event, Isabella Sings overcame a bump at the start to assume early control and never looked back. Under Paco Lopez, the four-year-old by Eskendereya opened up in the lane to win by three lengths in a time of 1:40.57 over firm ground.
Owned by Siena Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, Isabella Sings returned $2.80. Sea Coast finished second, with Bureau de Change third.
Winner of the Mrs. Revere (G2) at Churchill Downs and the Little Silver at Monmouth last season, Isabella Sings put a brief scare into champion turf mare Tepin in the Hillsborough (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs in March, leading by as much as 18 lengths before losing to the world-renowned champion by a length.
Seventh behind Tepin the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile next out, Isabella Sings rebounded to take the $82,000 Miss Liberty at Monmouth on May 29. She's now earned $451,950 from a line of 15-6-4-0.
At Arlington, Sarah Sis was a gate-to-wire of the $100,000 Chicago H. (G3) under Jose Valdivia Jr.
Holding a lead varying from a half-length to one length over Kathballu throughout the seven-furlong Polytrack test, Sarah Sis repelled the latter during the stretch run to win by a length in a time of 1:23.16.
The 9-5 favorite, Sarah Sis paid $5.60 for owner Rags Racing Stable and trainer Ingrid Mason. Kathballu finished 1 1/2 lengths clear of You Bought Her.
A four-year-old filly by Sharp Humor, Sarah Sis was a four-time stakes winner at three, taking the Raven Run (G2), Fantasy (G3), Iowa Oaks (G3), and Panther. Second in the $100,000 American Beauty to start the season, this was her first win of 2016 after three consecutive unplaced efforts in graded company.
"We're going to try to get a Grade 1 this year," Mason said.
Her record now stands at 18-7-4-0, $662,500.
(Chelsea Durand/Adam Coglianese Photography)
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