Distinctlypossible runs downs Leader of the Band in Serena's Song
?q=100)
Distinctlypossible in her first six starts never had shown much early speed. But in dirt races Sunday at Monmouth Park, if you didn’t show speed, you were toast.
Distinctlypossible and Samy Camacho, riding the filly for the first time, adapted. Always keeping heavily favored pacesetter Leader of the Band and jockey Paco Lopez in their sites, Distinctlypossible and Camacho wore down Leader of the Band through the final furlong and a half to win the $100,000 Serena’s Song Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths.
Camacho said he’s riding first call for trainer Chad Brown at this Monmouth meet, and Brown gave good instructions Sunday.
"When I talked to Chad just before the race, he said he thought the only speed in the race was Paco Lopez, and he said `I want you to put her next to him.’ That’s what I did,” Camacho said.
Brown trains Distinctlypossible for Bradley Thoroughbreds, and connections thought enough of the filly to put her in the Grade 1 Alcibiades as a once-started maiden in October 2021. Distinctlypossible finished third there and, after a maiden win the following spring, finished a flat eighth in the 2022 Black-Eyed Susan.
Unraced for nine months, Distinctlypossible ran evenly making her comeback in a Gulfstream grass race this past February, cleared her first allowance condition last month at Keeneland, and took a large step forward in the Serena’s Song.
Leader of the Band led through reasonable fractions of 23.87 and 47.14 before Camacho began turning up the pressure into the far turn. Leader of the Band still held a lead at the three-eighths pole, seemingly going easier than Distinctlypossible, but Camacho stayed busy on his mount, who collared Leader of the Band at the quarter pole and had a lead turning into the homestretch at the three-sixteenths. Leader of Band fought back and might have gotten on even terms at the furlong grounds, but Distinctlypossible never wavered, pulling away in the final strides.
The top two were much the best, Leader of the Band checking in 5 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Shotgun Hottie. Distinctlypossible clocked a quick 1:40.43 for one mile, 70 yards on a fast track and paid $5.60 as the strong second choice.
Despite ceding age, experience, and accomplishment to Leader of the Band, Distinctlypossible gave the runner-up four pounds, carrying 122 to victory.
Bred in Kentucky by John Oxley, Distinctlypossible is a 4-year-old by Curlin out of Funny Proposition, by Medaglia d’Oro.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.
30