Chester and Mary Broman's Seeking the Ante became a graded stakes winner Saturday when she rallied on the outside to defeat Slew Motion by a length in the $192,000 Nassau County Breeders' Cup (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.It was the third win in eight tries for the New York-bred daughter of Seeking the Gold-Antespend, by Spend a Buck, whose winning time was 1:22 4/5. The victory came before Belmont Park's Kentucky Derby Day crowd of 16,288."She's definitely gotten better," said winning trainer John Kimmel. "She started every race with a stumbled start, the first five races. She keeps getting better and better, more professional."Seeking the Ante settled well off Exit to Heaven, who got the first quarter in :22 3/5 and the half :45 3/5. Slew Motion and jockey Norberto Arroyo then made a move on the lead, and Seek the Ante followed. "I had to use her a little down the backside to help me, and she did.," winning jockey Mike Luzzi said. "We were able to run them down. She was game."The $250,000 Acorn (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on June 4 looks to be the next stop for Seeking the Ante. "Today, she had some solid pace in front of her," Kimmel said. "I was worried that seven-eighths would be a little short for her. I'm very confident that this filly can stretch out in distance. She'll have more of a chance to settle going longer, and that's what she wants to do. Obviously, she stamped herself as a quality filly. "Now that she is a grade II winner and a half-sister to Friends Lake, her value has just skyrocketed. Her mother (Antespend) was a grade 1 winner on dirt and turf. This was her last foal. She died giving birth to her."
Slew Motion was second, followed by Exit to Heaven. Favored Acey Deucey was fourth.
"She had to carry top weight today, and she's not a real big filly," said trainer John Morrison of Acey Deucey. "Plus, she was coming back on just three weeks' rest. I would have preferred another week between races. She was a little flat today. She kicked a little bit, but not the way she is capable of."Seeking the Ante paid $13, $5.80 and $3.90. Slew Motion returned $4.60 and $3.90, and Exit to Heaven paid $5.30 to show.Winning Season, Quite A Ruckus and Bright Mahogany trailed, while Pretty Partisan was scratched. (Chart, Equibase)
