Ireland: Bluestocking gets up in time over Emily Upjohn to take Pretty Polly

Emily Upjohn looked clear for good with a furlong remaining in Saturday’s Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in Ireland, until Bluestocking unleashed a rally that carried her to the front in the nick of time.

Ridden by Rossa Ryan, Bluestocking ($3.60 in American pools) wore down 2-1 Emily Upjohn in the final strides to win the $321,000 Pretty Polly Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles by a half-length. Content (12-1) finished third in the field of eight.

Emily Upjohn, winner of two Group 1 races in Britain in the last two years, engaged early pacesetter Lumiere Rock with more than a half-mile remaining and took the lead early in the three-furlong stretch. Leading by three lengths, Emily Upjohn was clear until Bluestocking closed from fifth under jockey Rossa Ryan.

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The Pretty Polly Stakes was Bluestocking’s first win in a Group 1 in her fourth start in such a race. Last year, Blustocking was second by a half-length in the Group 1 Irish Oaks at the Curragh in July, and second by a neck in the Group 1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot in October. She was also fourth in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks at York Racecourse.

Last month, Bluestocking won the Group 2 Middleton Stakes at York in Britain in her first start of the year.

A 4-year-old by Camelot, Bluestocking races for Juddmonte Farm and is trained in Britain by Ralph Beckett. A winner of 3 of 9 starts, Bluestocking is expected to have her next start in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles at Goodwood Racecourse in Britain on Aug. 1.

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