Dazzling Dame prevails in Sorority Stakes

Dazzling Dame comfortably handled a class jump and a two-turn test going wire to wire in the $100,000 Sorority Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park.

After breaking somewhat slowly before coming up to score a pacepressing debut victory over Maryland-breds in a 5 1/2-furlong Laurel Park maiden on June 27, Dazzling Dame proved two lengths best over runner-up Spitfire in the Sorority, a two-turn dirt contest over one mile restricted to 2-year-old fillies.

Jevian Toledo, aboard for the maiden win, rode Dazzling Dame for Respect the Valleys and trainer Brittany Russell.

Girvin, winner of two 1 1/8-mile graded-stakes races, including the Grade 1 Haskell, sired Dazzling Dame, who must draw her stamina from the stallion more than her dam, the Corinthian mare Awesome Dama. Awesome Dama’s two wins came at 5 1/2 and six furlongs, and her three foals before Dazzling Dame have been sprinters.

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But Russell, winning at a 27 percent clip on volume this season, wasted no time trying Dazzling Dame around two turns. A bulky filly with speed, Dazzling Dame broke running from post 1, went 24 and 48.64 while leading by a half-length over second choice Fond of You, ran away from Fond of You past the quarter pole, and had plenty in the tank to hold clear a mild late run from Spitfire. Fond of You faded through the homestretch while holding third, 7 1/2 lengths out of second.

Dazzling Dame, after a final quarter-mile in a pedestrian 26.62, stopped the timer in 1:40.83 racing on a fast track. The filly went into the starting gate at odds of 7-2 but came out of it the 13-10 favorite, paying $4.60.

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