Co-favorite Partisan Politics kicked home in mid-stretch to capture her first win of the year in the $200,000 Pebbles Stakes Oct. 12 at Belmont Park.
Video: Pebbles S. (BT)
Owned by Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, the 3-year-old daughter of More Than Ready —Bluegrass Princess, by Dynaformer, has now won twice in eight lifetime starts with both of her wins coming in stakes. She last won in the Aug. 27 P.G. Johnson Stakes on the grass at Saratoga Race Course in 2014.
Partisan Politics is trained by Chad Brown, who picked up his 18th win for the Belmont fall meet. She was ridden by Javier Castellano.
"She was really more strung out than I initially thought, but she got a good pace to run into today and it was nice to get the win," said Brown. "She prefers to have a target to run at and she might've made the lead a little soon, but he stayed after her and she finished off the race real well."
Siena Farm's Isabella Sings set the pace in the one-mile race on Belmont's Widener turf course. She led her seven challengers through opening fractions of :22.96 for the opening quarter, :45.90 for the half, and six furlongs in 1:10.13.
Coming out of the second turn, Stronach Stable's Devine Aida took the lead but her leading role was short-lived as Partisan Politics gained momentum and easily passed Devine Aida. The winner stopped the timer at 1:34.43, about two lengths in front of Devine Aida. Consumer Credit closed to take third place narrowly over Isabella Sings.
Partisan Politics was bred in Kentucky by Dell Ridge Farm. She was purchased for $175,000 out of the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale by Salem Bloodstock out of the Denali Stud consignment.
The filly has now earned $248,300, having finished in the money five times in eight starts. She has placed second in two stakes in New York this year.
The winner paid $7, $3.60, and $2.70. Devine Aida paid $8.10 and $4.40, while Consumer Credit paid $2.50. The $2 exacta paid $58, and the $2 trifecta paid $238.
