(Chart, Equibase)
Moyglare Stud Farm's Where We Left Off found another gear in the final sixteenth of a mile, surging past the comfortably leading Mrs. M for a one-length triumph in the $100,000 Matchmaker Handicap (gr. IIIT) for fillies and mares on the Monmouth Park turf Sunday.With Corey Nakatani aboard, the English-bred 4-year-old Dr Devious filly won for the fifth time in her last six starts for trainer Christophe Clement while earning her first graded stakes. Mrs. M, a 12-1 shot who led by three lengths in the final furlong with C.C. Lopez aboard, finished second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of Spin Control and Joe Bravo. The final time for the 1 1/8-mile grass test was 1:48 4/5 on firm footing.Janeian, the 8-5 favorite in the field of nine, finished fourth, 3 3/4 lengths behind the winner.Where We Left Off was unhurried while racing seventh along the inside for Nakatani, eased out slightly in the lane and closed with a rush to register her seventh win in 11 career starts. She increased her lifetime earnings to $256,959. She paid $7, $4.40 and $3.40 as the second choice in the field. Mrs. M, a tough luck loser after setting all of the fractions (:23, :48 1/5, 1:12 2/5, 1:36 3/5), returned $10.60 and $6. Spin Control, who also closed gamely, was $4.40 to show. The exacta was worth $81.80.After Janeian came Bitterroot, Constant Touch, Jacqui's Promise, Alternate and Cocktailsanddreams.
