Faith in Humanity leads Brown's 1-2-3 sweep of Pebbles Stakes

Faith in Humanity made the lead soon after the start under Manny Franco and the 3-year-old filly went unchallenged for most of the race, ultimately staving off a late run from stablemate Gina Romantica to win Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Pebbles Stakes by a half-length at Aqueduct.

It was another three-quarters of a length back to Bahamian Club in third as trainer Chad Brown sent out the first three finishers in the Pebbles, a race he won for the fifth time.

The result was a reverse of the Riskaverse Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 25, when Gina Romantica beat Faith in Humanity by 1 1/4 lengths.

The pace dynamic was very different in the Pebbles than the Riskaverse, in which Gina Romantica took advantage of a strong pace to rally from 10 lengths back while Faith in Humanity raced a close-up third and was able to hold off A Mo Reay for second.

:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!

On Sunday, there was no pace in the Pebbles and Franco, after a discussion early in the day with Brown, opted to put his filly on the lead after she broke so sharp.

“It didn’t look like there was too much speed in the race. He told me if you end up on the lead let her go; if not then just ride her with confidence,” Franco said in a post-race interview. “She made the lead and she was so comfortable and she did the rest.”

Faith in Humanity set fractions of 24.13 seconds for the quarter, 49.55 for the half and 1:13.75 for six furlongs and had plenty left with which to finish as she covered the mile in 1:36.36 over firm turf. Faith in Humanity, a daughter of Lope de Vega owned by Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables, returned $13.80 as the 5-1 second choice.

Brown and Klarman also won Saturday’s Grade 3, $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks with McKulick. Brown won a total of three races on Sunday’s card and seven with 20 starters through the first four days of the Belmont at Aqueduct fall meet.

Racing resumes at Aqueduct on Thursday.