Favored Disposablepleasure overcame a bad stumble at the start and a claim of foul to nose out Wildcat's Smile at the wire in the $200,000 Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct Nov. 26 (VIDEO).
Making her stakes debut for owner Glencrest Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, Disposablepleasure was driven to victory by Ramon Dominguez in the Demoiselle, the first of four graded events on the Aqueduct card. Making her fourth lifetime start, she completed the 1 1/8-mile event for 2-year-old fillies in a deliberate 1:53.10 over a fast track.
Referring to Disposablepleasure's stumble, Pletcher commented, “The only thing I thought is maybe it’s Rags to Riches again. That was bad to start with, but she really started her run on the turn, picked up some momentum, and had to stop again. It was a very courageous effort for any horse, but especially a 2-year-old filly.
"She’s got a lot of natural ability, but she showed she’s got some heart and desire to go along with it. For any horse to win and overcome all that first time going 1 1/8 miles was impressive, but you don’t see too many 2-year-old fillies do that.”
Disposablepleasure, a gray/roan daughter of 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Giacomo out of the With Approval mare My Canada, was bred in Kentucky by Doug Branham. She sold for $45,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky sale as a yearling in July 2010.
An 11-length winner over maidens at Belmont Park in her last start Oct. 6, Disposablepleasure was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of 10.
Disposablepleasure came out of the gate on her nose but Dominguez was able to stay aboard and quickly guided the filly to the rail, where she trailed the field.
Wee Party, part of a Live Oak Plantation-owned entry along with Lady Cohiba, hustled to the front for Rajiv Maragh. Wee Party led Brown Eyed Nance, Wildcat's Smile, and Indyniable through an opening quarter-mile of :23.85 before her stalemate progressed into second as she covered a half-mile in :48.31 and six furlongs in 1:13.77. Disposablepleasure advanced along the inside and was angled out on the final turn where she steadied as she appeared to push 32-1 outsider Bourbonstreetgirl wide rounding the bend.
Wildcat's Smile swept past the entrymates to get the lead in the lane for jockey Junior Alvarado. Disposablepleasure, waiting for room behind the leaders, came through between horses for Dominguez and challenged Wildcat's Smile on her inside. Those two fought it out over the final furlong with Disposablepleasure getting the benefit of the nod.
Bourbonstreetgirl rallied for third for jockey David Cohen, 2 3/4 lengths behind the first two. Cohen lodged an objection against the winner for the skirmish on the final turn. After a review, stewards ruled there would be no change in the order of finish.
Dominguez said he was concerned about Disposablepleasure's chances after the bad start.
"She was taking me nicely and they were backing up in front of me, and both Cohen (aboard Bourbonstreetgirl) and I went out to avoiding colliding with the fillies in front. Then I had to take a hold, go back inside, and regroup.”
Disposablepleasure, a kin to stakes winner Romantic Highway, made her debut on the turf at Saratoga at 1 1/16 miles in August, finishing fourth. Switched to the min track at Monmouth Park Sept. 10, she finished second in a maiden test at one mile and 70 yards as the 7-5 favorite. Sent off off as the 9-10 choice in her next start at Belmont, she blew away her four rivals at 1 1/16 miles.
Her Demoiselle victory, worth $120,000, boosted her Disposablepleasure's career earnings to $161,600.
Carrying 115 pounds, Disposablepleasure paid $4.50, $3.10, $2.80. New York-bred Wildcat's Smile, second in the restricted Joseph A. Gimma Stakes Oct. 22 at Belmont for trainer Dominic Galluscio, returned $4.70 and $3.80. The exacta was worth $22.60. Bourbonstreetgirl, making her main track debut after four starts on the grass, paid $6.80 to show.
Wee Party finished fourth, followed by Brown Eyed Nance, Lady Cohiba, Captivating Lass, Dreaming of Cara, Awalkinthemoonlite, and Indyniable.