Brown hits Commonwealth Oaks exacta with Rymska, Taperge
Rymska hadn't raced in close to 10 months prior to the Grade 3 Commonwealth Oaks at Laurel Park on Saturday, and when the gates opened she didn't break cleanly. Despite those obstacles, Rymska showed her class with a strong finish that carried her to a three-quarters of a length victory.
Rymska is trained by Chad Brown, as is Taperge, who had to settle for second in the $150,000 Oaks after making the lead in the stretch.
Rymska, a French import last fall by Sheep Pond Partners, et al, is now 4 for 7. She is 2 for 4 in the U.S. with a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Miss Grillo at Belmont Park a year ago and a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. Both races were won by New Money Honey, who also is trained by Brown.
Rymska began her 3-year-old season by surging late to win the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant Stakes in February at Gulfstream Park. She had some minor physical issues after that race, according to Brown, and didn't start again until Saturday.
In the 10-horse Commonwealth Oaks, Rymska bobbled and broke to the outside from post 3. Jockey Feargal Lynch took a hold of her and remained unhurried until midway on the backstretch in the 1 1/8-mile turf race. Rymska commenced a four-wide bid on the far turn, then finished fast to run by Taperge in deep stretch and win going away.
The win was the third from the first seven races on the card for Lynch.
"The key was to get her to relax," Lynch said. "She just exploded when she came into the straight."
Rymska was bet down late and went off favored. She paid $6.80. The Rymska-Taperge exacta paid $32.
The final time was 1:46.94 over a firm Fort Marcy turf course.
I'm Betty G set the pace in the Oaks and then dug in with determination in the stretch, finishing third, a half-length behind Taperge. It was a nose farther back to In the Lee in fourth.
Taperge had a good trip early and split horses in upper stretch. She finished well but could not keep pace with the winner.
