Lady Montdore shows the way in Glens Falls

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Lady Montdore has come a long way in a short time. Four weeks after winning her U.S. debut in an entry-level allowance race earlier in the meet, the Godolphin homebred became a Grade 2 winner when leading throughout to register a 2 1/4-length victory over the 3-2 favorite Santa Monica in the $250,000 Glens Falls decided in near darkness as the finale on Saturday’s 12-race program at Saratoga.

Lady Montdore rallied from just off the pace to win her local bow, which came in her first start in 11 months and first since joining trainer Tom Albertrani’s barn in May. Her victory here on Aug. 8 did not come without incident after Lady Montdore experienced heat distress in the winner’s circle immediately after the race.

But the cooler weather along with the lack of any real pace in the 1 3/8-mile Glens Falls were just what the doctor ordered for Lady Montdore, a 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, who was Group 3-placed in France as a 3-year-old last summer. With jockey Manny Franco aboard, Lady Montdore went right to the front, set a pedestrian pace over a turf course officially labeled good, settled into the stretch with a clear lead before gradually increasing her advantage to the wire.

Santa Monica stalked the pace from the outset but could not muster the necessary response down the lane. She finished second, one length in front of Danceland. They in turn were followed by Onthemoonagain, Savannah Belle, Summersault, La Manta Gris, and Homeland Security.

Lady Montdore completed the distance in 2:20.78 and paid $10.40. The win also afforded Albertrani and Godolphin some measure of satisfaction after having an apparent allowance victory by Final Frontier taken away by a steward’s disqualification earlier on the card.

“She didn’t look like much, she was very skinny and light-framed when she first came in, and then she got my attention as she trained,” said Albertrani, referring to Lady Montdore. I was confident she’d run well in her first start, and I was thinking big, the Breeders’ Cup maybe, after she won. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to bring her back, Manny did a great job putting her on the lead, and she just went around there with her ears pricked today and made it look easy."

Albertrani said the Grade 1 Flower Bowl on Oct. 7 at Belmont Park was a possibility for Lady Montdore's next start.

As for Final Frontier, Albertrani was naturally disappointed at the stewards' decision to take him down considering the circumstances while saying, “the horse ran well, that’s the main thing. The grass made a big difference with him, and at least we know he has some talent.”