Isabelle proves capable at two turns in Bay Ridge
Isabelle, a multiple stakes winner sprinting, proved herself going a distance of ground Sunday at Aqueduct, drawing off to a 5 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes for New York-breds.
Benefitting from a ground-saving trip under Kendrick Carmouche, Isabelle snuck through an opening along the rail in upper stretch and easily outfinished Super Surprise, the 2-1 favorite, who finished second by a head over Kathy’s Humor.
It was 4 3/4 lengths back to the fading pacesetter, Jules N Rome, in fourth. She was followed, in order, by Literata, Mecke’s Madalyn, First Service, and Storied Lady.
The win was the sixth in 17 career starts for Isabelle, a 5-year-old daughter of Successful Appeal owned by William Schettine and trained by Bill Mott. It was the third stakes victory for Isabelle, who previously won the Bouwerie at age 3 - when trained by Lisa Lewis - and the Broadway as a 4-year-old. Both of those races were sprinting.
In August, Isabelle set the pace and was run down by Jules N Rome in the Saratoga Dew going 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga. She set the pace again in the Empire Distaff at Belmont only to fade to fifth behind Bar of Gold.
Sunday, Isabelle sat off the pace in fourth while Jules N Rome set fractions of 24.79 seconds for the quarter-mile, 49.43 for the half-mile, and 1:14.29 for six furlongs while being pursued by First Service and Kathy’s Humor, the latter getting off poorly.
Carmouche had Isabelle up close in fourth and in the No. 2 path down the backside. Hemmed in but with plenty of horse at the quarter pole, Carmouche went back to the rail in upper stretch and hoped for some room. That opening came when Jules N Rome floated off the rail. Carmouche shot Isabelle on through and she finished well to get the win.
“As soon as I saw [Jules N Rome] getting out when she switched leads, I planted myself back to the rail and just waited for the rail to open,” Carmouche said. “It opened and made me look like a hero today.”
Isabelle covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.16 and returned $20.20 to win.
Riley Mott, who saddled the horse for his father, credited Carmouche with giving Isabelle a perfect ride.
“He got her nice and relaxed and obviously came up the inside and she was loaded on the turn for home,” Riley Mott said. “It was a good performance [by] the jockey and the filly.”