Feel Glorious comes from last to take Memories of Silver

Despite slow early fractions, Feel Glorious was able to rally from last place to win the $100,000 Memories of Silver by a head at Aqueduct on Friday.

Feel Glorious, who was bred and made her first five career starts in Great Britain, is now 2 for 2 in the United States for trainer Christophe Clement and owners Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Tango Uniform Racing. The Memories of Silver, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies, had a field of five after the scratches of three main-track-only entrants.

The Chad Brown duo of 6-5 favorite Blowout and 2-1 La Feve broke sharply, with La Feve going to the lead and Blowout settling into a stalking position along the inner rail. La Feve covered an unpressured opening quarter in a slow 25.69 seconds and a half-mile in 49.69 with Aunt Hattie racing just off her and to the outside of Blowout.

For the second straight race, Blowout had a difficult journey. In the Grade 3 Florida Oaks on March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs, she raced in traffic in upper stretch before shaking free and finishing second by a half-length. On Friday, she took a bad stumble midway up the backstretch, possibly clipping the heels of La Feve.

On the far turn, Aunt Hattie challenged La Feve in earnest from the outside and Her Royal Highness bid three wide. Feel Glorious, who was unhurried while trailing early under jockey Eric Cancel, began to advance and was taken four wide nearing the stretch.

Blowout, who was shuffled back a bit on the turn, was swung toward the inside for racing room in upper stretch by Javier Castellano and had to work her way up between La Feve and Aunt Hattie in midstretch. She came away with the lead in the final sixteenth but was nailed by Feel Glorious in deep stretch.

La Feve finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Blowout and a length ahead of Aunt Hattie in fourth. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Her Royal Highness.

Feel Glorious, who paid $9.20, was timed in 1:42.13 over firm ground after splits of 1:13.04 and 1:36.18. She is now 3 for 7 after rallying from sixth to win a first-level optional-claiming race at Gulfstream Park in her stateside debut.

“It didn't matter if they went quick or slow,” Cancel said. “With the ability that she has, she's pretty tactical. She can be closer to the pace or come from behind. We had an amazing trip. She'll keep on improving.”