Irish Jasper grabs third straight stakes in Victory Ride

ELMONT, N.Y. – Irish Jasper scored her third consecutive stakes win in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday and now will be pointed to the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga by trainer Derek Ryan.

Irish Jasper came into the $147,000 Victory Ride, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies, off victories in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness at Pimlico and the Belle Harbor Stakes at Aqueduct in April.

Super Saks set the pace in the Victory Ride while being tracked by Promise Me Silver, Kathballu, and Miss Ella. Nearing the stretch, Irish Jasper looped the leaders and, at the eighth pole, held a 1 1/2-length lead. She cruised home under Javier Castellano to win by three lengths.

"She's progressing nicely," Ryan said. "I was very confident coming in. I think the seven-eighths of the Test will be perfect for her."

Ryan owns Irish Jasper in partnership with several friends. Ryan said Irish Jasper is on the small side, and when she first arrived at his barn, he was taken aback. She now is 6 for 9 with earnings of $312,800.

Irish Jasper paid $11.80 as the fourth choice in the six-horse field. She was timed in 1:16.70 after fractions of 22.02 seconds, 45.62, and 1:10.01.

The $500,000 Test will be run Aug. 8 at Saratoga.

Enchanting Lady, the 6-5 favorite, ran an unusual race. She didn't show her usual speed from the gate and lagged back in last place early. She finished well with a belated bid from well out on the track to be second best and galloped out in front of the winner.

Kathaballu finished third, 2 3/4 lengths behind Enchanting Lady.

Promise Me Silver, the second choice at 3-1, saved ground along the inside just behind the early leader. Jockey Robby Albarado asked her to go up inside horses entering the stretch, but she lacked the needed kick and never made it through, finishing fifth.

The inside part of the track was not good Saturday at Belmont, but Promise Me Silver just may not have been comfortable down along the rail.

Miss Ella stalked the pace while outside horses and tired to finish fourth.