L Street Lady surges late in Jersey Girl Stakes
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Nobody knew anything in the $145,000 Jersey Girl Stakes on Sunday at Belmont Park, where it was 12-1 L Street Lady over 17-1 Unified Alliance over 26-1 Wildhawk. Chocolate Gelato, who was 4-5, and Aunt Becca, the even-money second choice, brought up the rear in a five-horse, six-furlong dirt race for 3-year-old fillies.
The Jersey Girl pace appeared moderate, but L Street Lady came from last under Manny Franco to win by one length.
Shipping from Maryland for super-trainer Brittany Russell, a well-beaten third May 19 in the Ms. Preakness at Pimlico, L Street Lady rolled past Unified Alliance in the final half-furlong to win going away. Unified Alliance had stalked and pressed pacesetting Wildhawk, who went 22.52 and 45.98 before being overtaken in midstretch. Fading, she still managed to stave off Chocolate Gelato, the Todd Pletcher-trained filly making her first start since a dud in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November at Keeneland. In the penultimate race of her 2-year-old season, Chocolate Gelato, owned by Repole Stables, won the Grade 1 Frizette.
Chocolate Gelato came under a ride around the turn while not taking Irad Ortiz Jr. anywhere, but by then Aunt Becca, well-bet after a blowout Keeneland allowance win in April, already looked finished. Toiling, she checked in six lengths last, well behind the parade of longshots.
L Street Lady ($26.20) added a second stakes win to her resume and now is 5-3-0-2 for Russell and her owner, Madaket Stables. Bred by T & G Farm of Kentucky, L Street Lady is by Munnings out of Lady Gayle, by Scat Daddy. She was timed in 1:11.10 for six furlongs over a fast track.
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