Surprising 'Wonder' Captures Demoiselle

Wonder Lady Anne L, an $8,000 yearling, hit the lead in mid-stretch and drew away in the final sixteenth of a mile to register a surprise in Saturday's $200,000 Demoiselle (gr. II) for 2-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.

The longest shot in the field of only five, at odds of 10-1, Wonder Lady Anne L, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Real Quiet, defeated three fillies that were saddled by Todd Pletcher, who set the North American single-season record for earnings Friday.

One of Pletcher's fillies, Wait a While, led into the stretch after setting dawdling fractions, but was passed by a second Pletcher trainee, Cinderella's Dream, who could not hold off the winner. Wonder Lady Anne L made a three-wide move on the far turn and closed with a rush on the outside for jockey Cornelio Velasquez. The pair battled part of the way to the wire before the longshot took control late. The final time for the 1 1/8-mile event was 1:42 4/5 on a fast track.

Velasquez rode Wonder Lady Anne L for the first time. The winner carried 115 pounds – four fewer than her four opponents.

"I told Cornelio that I didn't want her to go out after the lead. We wanted her to relax in the first part," winning trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said. "He got her to settle nicely, and he worked out a great trip."

Wonder Lady Anne L earned $120,000 for owners Sanford H. Robbins LLC, IEAH Stables, Orchard Kids Stable, and Steve B. Simon. The victory was her second in seven career starts. She was sold for $8,000 at Ocala in August 2004.

Wonder Lady Anne L defeated Cinderella's Dream, ridden by John Velazquez, by 2 3/4 lengths. Wait a While, who set fractions of :24 2/5, :49 4/5 and 1:14 4/5, held on for third with Jerry Bailey aboard.

Wonder Lady Anne L, who broke her maiden by nine lengths at Calder May 30, was coming off a third-place finish in the one-mile Tempted (gr. III) at Belmont Park, when she was beaten by six lengths by Better Now. Prior to that she was up the track to Adieu in both the Spinaway (gr. II), when sixth, and the Astoria, when she finished third.

"I don't know what we'll do with her next," Dutrow said. "When we bought her, I really liked the number that she ran down in Florida. Just by looking at her, it looked like she wanted to go long."

She paid $23, $8.90, and $4.30.

Cinderella's Dream returned $3.90 and $2.70.

Wait a While, who was extremely reluctant to load beforehand, was $3.30 to show.

Love Locket finished fourth while favored Better Now never got into gear after trailing the field early for Javier Castellano and came home last.

Dan White and Highland Farm bred Wonder Lady Anne L, who is from the Wild Zone mare Ancho.