Sis City cruises to victory in the Demoiselle.
After two worthy but losing efforts in grade I company, Sis City found the competition in Saturday's Demoiselle (gr. II) Stakes to her liking, rolling to a 3-3/4 length front-end victory for Aqueduct's leading trainer, Richard Dutrow Jr.Sis City previously led the field to the top of the stretch in both the Frizette (gr. I) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) before finishing third and fourth respectively. A slower pace made all the difference on Saturday as Sis City put herself on the lead and waltzed through a half mile in :48.1. Both of her two prior races were contested through sub-:47 halves."In the Breeders' Cup, we were going much faster than we were today. That's why she had so much left today," winning jockey, John Velazquez said. "She relaxed early on. Going into the first turn she put her ears up and relaxed very, very good."The main competition came from Salute, who fought through traffic on the first turn to work out a strong, stalking trip under Jerry Bailey. Salute made a mild run at Sis City on the far turn but was easily repelled and barely held off Winning Season for second.Dutrow claimed Sis City off Steve Asmussen for $50,000 the day she broke her maiden at Saratoga. One start later she won the Mongo Queen Stakes at Monmouth by 16 lengths before stepping up in the Frizette."We'll put her away for the winter and give her some time off on the farm in Florida," Dutrow said. "We want to have her fresh for the big races next year. She's sweet."K.D.'s Shady Lady was coupled with Sis City and helped drive the price down to 2/5 off her runner-up effort as a maiden in the Tempted (gr. III) earlier this month. But in the Demoiselle she never looked like a winner, finishing fifth.Owned by Sanford Goldfarb, Michael Dubb, Ira Davis and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre, Sis City ends her first year of racing with a record of 3-0-2 from six starts and earnings of $282,980.She paid $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10. Salute, racing without blinkers, returned $2.20 and $2.10. Winning Season, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, was $2.10 to show. The entry created a minus show pool of $60,199.Secrets Galore, K.D.'s Shady Lady, Natalie Jane and Money Helps followed.(Chart, Equibase)
