Class drop, fast pace helps Mouffy return to winner's circle in Perfect Sting

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Softer company and a stronger pace helped Mouffy get back to the winner’s circle Thursday at Aqueduct.

Last of five early under Frankie Dettori, Mouffy came with a wide run approaching the top of the stretch, but despite losing some ground in the lane, she was able to outfinish Midnight Mile to win the $139,500 Perfect Sting Stakes by a neck. It was one length back to Lady Beth in third as the Chad Brown-trained runners finished second and third.

Moonage Daydream and Damaso, who were part of the early pace, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Mouffy, a 5-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo owned and bred by George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable and trained by Jonathan Thomas, won for the fifth time in 12 starts. It was her first win since she took the Ellis Park Turf Stakes by a length last August. In between she had three seconds from her last five starts, two of them coming in graded company.

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Last out, in the Grade 3 Modesty at Churchill, Mouffy finished eighth, somewhat compromised by a soft pace and yielding turf. Thursday, over firm ground, Moonage Daydream, prompted early by Damasao, set realistic fractions of 23.23 seconds for the quarter and 47.66 for the half-mile.

Mouffy was 8 1/2 lengths back after the opening quarter, but was within 4 1/2 lengths with a half-mile to run. Dettori kept her clear and despite losing some ground and then having the turf break away from underneath her at the head of the lane, Mouffy powered home the winner.

“She likes a hot pace and she got one today,” Dettori said. “At Churchill, it was a stop and start scenario which she doesn’t like. Today, with a pace throughout the race, it really suited me.”

Mouffy covered the mile in 1:35.29 and returned $4 as the favorite.

“From a pace situation, it was exactly what we were hoping for,” Thomas said. “He rode her to perfection like he does and I’m just thrilled with the result.”

Thomas said Mouffy would be part of his small Saratoga string. Races like the $135,000 De La Rose going one mile on July 31 and/or the Grade 2, $300,000 Ballston Spa at 1 1/16-miles on Aug. 22 could be on her dance card.

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