Belmont Park: Baby J re-rallies to take Victory Ride

As with the New York Stakes a race earlier, Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride Stakes went to the longest shot on the toteboard, when Baby J ($23.00), seemingly beaten in midstretch, altered course and came again to overtake next-to-longest shot Bridgehampton.

A well-beaten third as the favorite in an allowance race 15 days earlier, the speedy Baby J dashed to the lead through fractions of 22.14 and 45.13 seconds while hounded by Bridgehampton, who was exiting a maiden win in her second career start.

Bridgehampton wrested command with a furlong remaining and appeared home free, but Baby J altered course off the rail and re-rallied to edge away by three-quarters of a length under never-say-die handling by Joel Rosario.

“She came back,” said Rosario. “In my head, I thought she would maybe come back, so I kept her busy and rode her. I put her on the outside and she came back again. It was impressive.”

Baby J ran six furlongs in 1:10.84 seconds over a fast main track, as the sixth winner at the meet for the resurgent barn of Pat Reynolds.

“She’s very game,” said Reynolds. “She’s a free-running type of filly, and it worked out. She’ll probably need a little time off, but she’ll be tough on a speed track up there [at Saratoga] wherever we elect to go with her.”

Bridgehampton finished clear for the runner-up spot by 2 1/4 lengths over 7-5 favorite Fusaichiswonderful, who checked in third, two lengths ahead of Teen Pauline.

I’m Mom’s Favorite completed the order of finish.

Kauai Katie, Lighthouse Bay and Native One were scratched.