Canadian invader Springside rallied from last on the final turn and overpowered her rivals by 9 1/2 lengths in the $200,000 Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II) (VIDEO) at Aqueduct Nov.29.
The Awesome Again filly, owned by James and Alice Sapara and trained by Josie Carroll, was pulled up past the wire by jockey Garrett Gomez and was taken off the track by van.
Frizette (gr. I) winner Sky Diva, the 3-10 favorite in the field of six 2-year-old fillies, tired in the lane and was nosed for the runner-up spot by 33-1 shot Boleyn.
Springside, who won her third straight race while making her stakes debut for Carroll, completed the 1 1/8-mile test in 1:51.71 on a fast main track.
According to Dr. Anthony Verderosa, chief examining veterinarian for the New York Racing Association, Springside suffered what appears to be a fracture of the right-front pastern and was taken for x-rays. The Demoiselle was her first start on a conventional dirt track.
“When she was galloping out, she swapped leads and I heard a pop,” said Gomez. “She never indicated that anything was wrong. Hopefully, I got her stopped in time.”
Gomez allowed Springside to drop off the pace as front-runner Ain’t Love Grand set the pace of :24.09, 48.20, and 1:12.65 while being shadowed by Sky Diva.
Sky Diva, ridden by Ramon Dominguez, put Ain't Love Grand to the test on the turn as Springside moved up while racing four wide.
Springside made her move coming off the turn for home, and surged past the leaders, including the struggling Sky Diva. Gomez kept her busy on the lead as her advantage swelled in the final eighth of a mile.
Boleyn, who saved ground into the homestretch under Eibar Coa, came on to get second from the tiring Sky Diva. It was three-quarters of a length to Ain't Love Grand in fourth. Bluegrass Princess and Stormy's Smile trailed.
Springside, coming off a 10-length first-level allowance win on Polytrack at Woodbine, returned $13.20, $5.30, and $2.70, topping a $2 exacta worth $243.50. It was her third straight win after beginning her career with two losses.
“All the way around, she was very willing,” Gomez said.“When I moved her to the outside, she was really impressive. It is a shame that whatever happened, happened.”
Boleyn, trained by Todd Pletcher, returned $15 and $4.30. Sky Diva, who was coming off a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) Oct. 24, was $2.10 to show.
“She was throwing her head around and the horse on the inside of me bothered her a little bit," Dominguez said of the favorite. "She is better than she showed today. She will be better next time.”
Springside, bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, is out of the Digression mare Folly Dollar and was purchased for $335,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She earned $120,000 for the victory, boosting her career bankroll to $190,163.
