Believe in Bertie sets second course record of meet in Daisy Devine
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
NEW ORLEANS – Owners Richard and Bertram Klein, and trainer Brad Cox had the leading female turf-route horse at Fair Grounds last season in Cash Control, and they have found another local divisional leader this winter with Believe in Bertie.
Believe in Bertie on Saturday won the $50,000 Daisy Devine – a race Cash Control won last year – by a half-length over Kitten’s Roar. She ran 1 1/16 miles on a firm, fast-playing course (the 5 1/2-furlong course record had fallen earlier) in 1:40.31 to set her second course record of the meet. Believe in Bertie ran one mile in a record 1:34.22 in the Pago Hop in December.
The Pago Hop was restricted to 3-year-olds, and on Saturday, Believe in Bertie was facing older horses while trying to stretch her speed another half-furlong, and she cleared both hurdles. Setting a more measured pace than she had in the Pago Hop, Believe in Bertie was eased to the lead by Shaun Bridgmohan while setting splits of 23.56 seconds, 47.36, and 1:10.66. Cambodia tracked the pace and tried to make a run at the leader after the field straightened for home, but Believe in Bertie turned her away, and then held off a wider bid from Kitten’s Roar to win her third race in a row. Cambodia finished third.
Heavily favored, Believe in Bertie paid $3.20 to win. A Louisiana-bred, Believe in Bertie, who was bred by her owners, is by Langfuhr and out of Saint Bertie, by Street Cry. She ran her record to 5-3-0 from 10 starts.
Mexican Miss, Factory of Faith, and Freudie Anne were scratched.