Bay Ridge: Despite poor start, Davis somehow able to ride live rail to victory aboard Stonewall Star

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - When the entries came out for Friday’s Bay Ridge Stakes and Stonewall Star drew the rail in a 12-horse field, trainer Horacio De Paz was not happy.

“I was like, ‘really?’ ” said De Paz, knowing that Stonewall Star isn’t good away from the gate.

But on a day when the inside was absolutely golden at Aqueduct, even with a bad break, Stonewall Star was able to ride the rail under Dylan Davis to a 2 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Bay Ridge for New York-bred fillies and mares that ultimately ran with a field of nine.

Sterling Silver, the 4-5 favorite, couldn’t overcome her outside draw and wide trip and had to settle for second, 4 1/4 lengths clear of Midtown Lights. Golden Rocket finished fourth and was followed by Call Her Bluff, Lisa’s Vision, Bon Adieu, Silver Skillet, and Sweetest Princess.

Khali Magic, Sweet Brown Sugar, and Cruise to Catalina were scratched.

Stonewall Star has a history of breaking poorly and she lived up to that reputation again on Friday, getting away last after hitting the side of the gate.

Davis knew he didn’t want to give up his rail position and was able to straighten out Stonewall Star and coax her toward the leaders. Stonewall Star was part of a group of four vying for the lead through a quarter in 23.55 seconds.

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By the time they ran a half-mile in 46.15 seconds, Stonewall Star was a half-length up on Lisa’s Vision and basically widened her advantage from there. Up five lengths at the eighth pole, Stonewall Star was never really threatened to the wire even as Sterling Silver was narrowing the gap late.

Davis said that Stonewall Star was standing in the gate well until the last horse was loaded.

“She tried to push back on the back doors, then she charged the front and finally adjusted there and we were able to break the best we could,” Davis said. “She has a little bit of an attitude there. This is the first for me a horse ever double-barreled or tried to kick the gate coming out at about the second or third jump. Once she was able to get her feet under her, I was able to ride my race from there.”

Stonewall Star, a 4-year-old daughter of Flatter owned and bred by Barry Schwartz, covered the mile in 1:35.02 and returned $11.40 as the third choice.

Davis said it was obvious early in the day that the inside was the place to be, a point hammered home when his sister, Katie Davis, guided Sunday Girl to victory in the race immediately preceding the Bay Ridge.

“I was just trying to get as forward as possible and stay on the rail at the same time,” Davis said. “I kept finding better position, I found myself on the lead and I was happy with where I was at.”

Stonewall Star won her sixth race, fifth stakes, from 18 starts and increased her earnings to $467,398.

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