Belmont: Derwins Star earns first graded stakes win in Bed o' Roses

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

Derwins Star, ridden by Ramon Dominguez, cruises to a 3 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 Bed o' Roses.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The rags-to-riches story of Derwin’s Star continued Sunday, as the erstwhile claimer demolished five other fillies and mares in the Grade 3, $150,000 Bed O’Roses Handicap at Belmont Park.

This was not the richest payday for Derwin’s Star, who was claimed as a 2-year-old for $10,000 by Steve Klesaris, and won the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks in 2010, but it was her first graded stakes victory and upped her overall record to 8-1-2 from 17 starts.

 “We wanted to get some graded stakes on her resume, and that was a big victory for us today,” said Klesaris. “This filly has always shown a lot of ability from way back, when she was third to Blind Luck and Havre de Grace [in the 2010 Delaware Oaks]. We’ve had to deal with a lot of issues with her, and at one point we thought about retiring her, but we gave her time. We’ll look at the Ballerina; that would definitely be in our sights.”

 Derwin’s Star ($6.90) tracked the pace from close range from the two-path, seized command in the stretch, and drew away to score by 3 1/2 lengths, while in hand late beneath Ramon Dominguez.

“She was right behind the speed,” said Dominguez. “Steve said, ‘If you can get behind the speed, just wait and she’ll fire for you,’ and sure enough turning for home she found the opening and just took off.”

Catch a Thief, who was off slowest after stumbling badly at the start, circled widest into the stretch and was along to edge even-money favorite C C’s Pal by a neck for the runner-up spot.

Twice the Lady was fourth, Island Bound was fifth, and early pacesetter Catinatree completing the order of finish. Honchis’n Ponchis was a late scratch.