Free as a Bird notches first stakes victory in License Fee

The late-blooming Free as a Bird continued her ascent through the ranks of filly and mare turf sprinters by notching her first stakes victory Sunday in the $100,000 License Fee Stakes at Belmont Park.

Free as a Bird, a 5-year-old mare by Hard Spun, bred and owned by Elizabeth J. Valando, stalked from close range outside as second choice Believe in Charlie established early fractions of 23.40 seconds and 47.29 in the License Fee, which was switched from the inner turf to a Widener course labeled “good.”

Free as a Bird poked a head in front in mid-stretch after five furlongs in 58.56 and drove clear under Joel Rosario to win by one length over a fast-closing Vicki’s Dancer, who was last on the rail at the quarter pole and swung out to finish fastest of all on the far outside to get second by a neck over Sounds of the City.

Free as a Bird ran six furlongs in 1:09.94 seconds and paid $5.00 as the favorite in the field of seven. She earned $60,000 and upped her record to 4-4-5 from 17 starts for trainer Ian Wilkes.

Madam Giry, Coarsegold, Believe in Charlie, and Trippin’ Along completed the order of finish.