Ladies Handicap sees R Betty Graybull come from behind to win

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Demonstrating once again a running style that is the antithesis of her speed-demon sire, R Betty Graybull came from out of the clouds to nail odds-on Quiet Giant in Saturday's 139th running of the $100,000 Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct.

R Betty Graybull, a gray 5-year-old New York-bred mare by 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull, took up residence in her usual position at the rear following a slow start, as 2-5 favorite Quiet Giant went to the front and recorded brisk opening fractions of 23.02 seconds, 47.49, and 1:11.77 while pressed by Speightful Affair.

Turning for home, R Betty Graybull swung to the outside beneath Eddie Castro and sustained a long rally to wear down Quiet Giant in the last 50 yards and prevail by three-quarters of a length.

"I knew they had a lot of speed up front, and I rode the same as the last time I was on her," said Castro, referring to an overnight stakes win earlier at the meet. "I let her drop back, relax, and make a run. She really responded when I asked her."

Making the 21st start of her career but first beyond one mile for trainer Linda White, R Betty Graybull ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.56 on a fast inner track and earned $60,000 for Fantasy Lane Stable and Stronach Stables.

She paid $7.60 to win as the second choice in a field of five older fillies and mares and improved to 8-3-3 from 21 starts overall.

Quiet Giant, a Todd Pletcher-trained half-sister to 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam, had swept three lesser stakes at the meet by better than 20 lengths. She held to be a clear second by nine lengths under David Cohen, who earlier had won four races for the second consecutive afternoon.

State Treasure was a distant third. Potosina and Speightful Affair completed the order of finish.