Gratefully, Epic Style win divisions of Perfect Sting with opposite tactics
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Gratefully’s early speed and Epic Style’s late turn of foot proved most effective in split divisions of the $175,000 Perfect Sting Stakes for female turf horses Friday at Belmont Park.
Gratefully, returning from a four-month layoff after a stumbling start led to a last-place finish in the Grade 2 Intercontinental Stakes in June, was able to secure the front under Umberto Rispoli soon after the start. Gratefully set fractions of 23.23 seconds for the quarter, 46.46 for the half and had enough left to hold off a challenge from Jody’s Pride late to win by a half-length.
Gratefully, a daughter of Laoban, had won the first five starts of her career including the Wishing Well Stakes at Santa Anita in February at Santa Anita. In April, she was a scratched out of the Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland by the regulatory veterinarians with what ultimately was diagnosed as a foot issue.
Gratefully returned in June in the Intercontinental at Saratoga, but stumbled at the start, wound up dueling through torrid fractions and finished last of nine.
Trainer Robert Falcone Jr. gave Gratefully a freshening after that, took the blinkers off for her return and she returned to her winning ways.
“She’s always been a little keen in the morning and in her races,” Falcone told the New York Racing Association publicity department. “It’s tough to change anything when you’re undefeated. We didn’t want to change anything for her last race at Saratoga. Ultimately, I think she’s better with them off.”
Gratefully, a 4-year-old daughter of Laoban, owned by Adelphi Racing Club, Shelly and Russell Hume, covered the seven furlongs in 1:20.32 over firm turf and returned $6.40 as the favorite.
Jody’s Pride, who raced an up-close third while saving ground under Edgard Zayas, came off the rail in the stretch and made a run at Jody’s Pride but had to settle for second, 1 1/2 lengths clear of Vive Veuve, who had rallied from last.
In the first division of the Perfect Sting, Epic Style came with a strong closing kick under Antonio Fresu to rally from last and run down loose-on-the-lead Cupids Crush to win by a head. It was 2 1/2 lengths back to Wind Flower in third.
The win was the third straight for Epic Style, a daughter of Good Magic trained by Michael Stidham for Speedway Stables. She won an allowance going 6 1/2 furlongs at Kentucky Downs on Aug. 30 and the Sweet Briar Too Stakes going six furlongs at Woodbine on Sept. 19.
“We’ve finally figured her out; she’s got that sweet spot between six and seven furlongs, she’s got that huge turn of foot,” Stidham said. “That’s the difference, getting her at the distance that she’s really, really comfortable. She’s really a big-hearted filly and goes out there and lays it down for you.”
Epic Style won despite Cupids Crush being able to get loose on the lead through a comfortable half-mile in 45.24 seconds under Julio Hernandez. Epic Style took advantage of the long Belmont stretch to get there.
“I've watched her races and she always comes from off the pace,” Fresu told the New York Racing Association publicity department. “I was a little bit worried that the pace wasn't extremely fast today. It's really hard to make up ground from the back. It wasn't a really fast pace, but she settled well and at the three-eighths she started coming alive.
Epic Style covered the seven furlongs in 1:20.20 and returned $10.52 as the third choice.
Stidham said he would look to bring Epic Style back to New York in either the Autumn Days on Nov. 21 or the Noble Damsel on Nov. 27.
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