Goldy Espony wires field in River Memories

ELMONT, N.Y. – Goldy Espony capped a terrific holiday weekend in New York for trainer Chad Brown by going gate to wire under Kendrick Carmouche to take Sunday’s $100,000 River Memories Stakes at Belmont Park.

Goldy Espony got away with a pedestrian pace – 24.91 seconds for the quarter, 51.37 for the half-mile, 1:17.85 for six furlongs, and 1:43.66 for the mile – which enabled her to have plenty left in the stretch, and she never was truly challenged. Goldy Espony won by 2 1/2 lengths over Dido, who won a three-way photo over Granny Mc’s Kitten and White Rose, who ended up third and fourth, respectively.

Goldy Espony ran 1 1/2 miles over firm turf in 2:29.77 and returned $8.20 as the second choice behind White Rose.

Goldy Espony was saddled by Brown’s assistant Cherie DeVaux, who told Carmouche “just break her sharp and see how slow we can go on front,” Carmouche said. “They thought she was a better horse in front. I just let her run freely, and I ended up slowing it down enough to sprint away from them in the last quarter.”

Goldy Espony’s win was the sixth victory in three days for Brown at Belmont Park. On Saturday, the stable won two races, including the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational with Lady Eli. On Friday, Brown won three races at Belmont, including the $100,000 Perfect Sting Stakes.

Brown now has 30 wins from 116 starters at the meet. He is nine wins behind Todd Pletcher with two weeks remaining in the meet.

Goldy Espony, a 4-year-old French-bred daughter of Vespone, now is 2 for 4 in this country and 5 for 11 overall. She is owned by Swift Thoroughbreds and Bradley Thoroughbreds.