Eskenformoney finishes race career with stakes win

Eskenformoney nailed Verve’s Tale on the wire for a head win in the Grade 3, $200,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Miss Sky Warrior, the 3-5 favorite in her first start since the Kentucky Oaks, set a quick pace and finished fourth.

The race was one of four stakes on the card.

Eskenformoney ($9.20), who toted top weight of 121 pounds, settled several lengths off the pace as Miss Sky Warrior jumped out to the lead and took the field through an opening quarter in 23.14 seconds. My Sky Warrior continued to lead through a half-mile in 45.86 seconds, then was overtaken by Verve’s Take through six furlongs in 1:10.61.

Eskenformoney made up ground on the turn and put in a determined bid through the stretch, covering the 1 1/16-mile run around one turn in 1:43.12. The track was listed as fast. John Velazquez was aboard the winner for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Eskenformoney is scheduled to be sold at auction Nov. 6 at Fasig-Tipton in Kentucky. The Turnback the Alarm was the second career stakes win for the mare, who also captured the Grade 3 Rampart last December at Gulfstream Park. She earned $120,000 for her victory Saturday for the partnership of StarLadies Racing and Lisa Troutt. Eskenformoney has now won five of 28 starts and $757,616.

Eskenformoney is a 5-year-old daughter of Eskendereya. She is from the Not For Love mare But for Money and was bred in Kentucky by Ramspring Farm.

The remaining order of finish in the Turnback the Alarm was Birdatthewire in third, followed by Miss Sky Warrior, Indian Paint and A Place to Shine. Tejana was scratched.