Belmont: Shopping for Love and Eventail win

ELMONT, N.Y. - A well-schooled Shopping for Love and a well-ridden Eventail won split divisions of the Mount Vernon Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares.

Shopping for Love, beaten as the 6-5 favorite in this race a year ago, has a history of acting up in the paddock before her races. Trainer Kenny Nesky schooled Shopping for Love in the paddock twice a day in the weeks since her last-place finish in the Beaugay Handicap on May 5.

In the first division, worth $83,850, Shopping for Love settled in fourth position under Jerry Bailey down the backside, advanced toward the leaders around the turn, and took over turning for home. With one crack of Bailey's right-handed whip, Shopping for Love drew clear to win by four lengths over Indy Mood for Luv. Shopping for Loveran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.80 and returned $3.60 as the 4-5 favorite.

In the second division, worth $84,150, jockey Edgar Prado guided Eventail to her first turf win, a 3 1/4-length victory over front-running Lovely Amanda. Prado kept Eventail in fourth position and wide down the backside, collared Lovely Amanda at the eighth pole, and drew off. Eventail covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.55 and returned $7.40 as the second choice. Ransom's Pride, the 9-5 favorite, finished fourth.

Eventail broke a 10-race losing streak dating to Sept. 4, 2000.