Battle Bling keeps winning streak alive with neck victory in Turnback the Alarm Stakes

Battle Bling won her third straight race Friday when she held off a closing charge from Nostalgic for a neck victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at Aqueduct. It was another 13 3/4 lengths back in third to First to Act.

The Turnback the Alarm was a mile and an eighth race for fillies and mares and it served as the feature on the opening day of the fall meet.

Battle Bling ($5.80) set a controlled pace, taking the field through an opening quarter in 25.80 seconds, a half-mile in 50.75 and six furlongs in 1:15.74. She covered the distance on a fast track in 1:53.60.

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“They were coming, but they were coming too late,” winning rider Kendrick Carmouche told the New York Racing Association publicity department. “She ran awesome. I tried to pull the trigger a little bit early at the quarter pole because I wanted to get away from them.

"The last couple times, being close to the pace, she's more productive.”

Following the race there was a stewards’ inquiry into the start as Exotic West reared and unseated her rider, Mike Luzzi. Luzzi was up shortly afterward, it was announced at Aqueduct, and he returned to ride in the finale Friday.

The incident left four horses contesting the race. Hybrid Eclipse and Coach had previously been scratched from the Turnback the Alarm.

Carmouche rode Battle Bling for trainer Rob Atras.

Battle Bling’s streak includes the $99,000 Twixt at Laurel and the $100,000 Hidden Figures, an overnight handicap at Colonial Downs.

Battle Bling is a 4-year-old daughter of Vancouver who races for Michael Dubb and Gandharvi Racing Stables. She has now won 6 of 21 starts and earned $618,117.

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