In the Gold rallies to win Gazelle

ELMONT, N.Y. - Nick Zito could see In the Gold starting to blossom in the cool morning air at Saratoga as fall approached.

"She really started to come around," Zito said. "A lot of fillies get better in the fall."

In the Gold, who had a tough spring and summer campaign, responded to the seasonal change with a 2 1/4-length victory over Leave Me Alone in the 110th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Belmont Park.

In the Gold ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.75 and paid $5.90.

In the Gold had hit the board in three straight Grade 1 races, starting with a second-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks. She ran third in both the Acorn at Belmont and the Test Stakes at Saratoga, where she rallied following a slow start.

"She had a tough campaign," Zito said. "She never runs a bad race."

In the Gold ran an excellent race in the Gazelle, sweeping past 4-5 favorite Leave Me Alone to earn her first Grade 1 victory.

The race strategy changed right at the break, when Dancing Edie, who figured to be a prominent pace factor, stumbled badly. She was eventually eased in the stretch.

That left Leave Me Alone and Yolanda B. Too in a battle for the lead. Leave Me Alone, the dominant winner of the seven-furlong Test, repelled that challenge turning for home but could not hold off In the Gold as she gathered momentum.

"She was a completely different filly today," said jockey Gary Stevens of Leave Me Alone. "Warming up, she was very aggressive."

Zito said he is thinking about the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Belmont on Oct. 29 for In the Gold's next start.

"Maybe we should just go all the way and wait for the Breeders' Cup," Zito said. "I like doing that, and I think she's the type of filly that could do it."

Trainer Eric Kruljac said he wasn't disappointed in Leave Me Alone's effort.

"She was a little rank in the [detention] barn," he said. "She fought all the way to the eighth pole, but she couldn't answer Nick's horse."

Yolanda B. Too held third in the five-horse field over Seeking the Ante.