Lewis Bay ends hiatus with Rampart victory

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Lewis Bay grabbed a short advantage over chief rival Curlin’s Approval leaving the starting gate for the $100,000 Rampart, then repulsed several bids from the even-money favorite before taking a 1 1/4-length decision Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Making her first start in nearly 13 months and with regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, Lewis Bay broke alertly and left the one-mile chute with a short lead over Curlin’s Approval, who rushed up the inside to force the pace from the outset. Curlin’s Approval stuck her head in front briefly down the backstretch, but under clever rating by Ortiz, Lewis Bay had plenty left to regain control midway on the turn before ultimately proving clear best at the end.

It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Nonna Mela, who rallied mildly to finish third while never seriously menacing the top two.

Lewis Bay, a daughter of Bernardini out of the Grade 3 winner Summer Raven, was making her first start in the Grade 3 Rampart since her second-place finish in the Grade 3 Comely last November at Aqueduct. The multiple Grade 2 winner, a homebred owned by Alpha Delta Stable, completed the distance in 1:36.14 over a fast track and paid $6.80.

“She had a lot of minor issues but they didn’t happen at the same time so it took a lot of patience from the owner, John Clay, and we’re so grateful he brought her back since she is worth a lot of money as a broodmare,” Brown said. “And all the patience paid off. My staff did a good job bringing her back off a 13-month layoff, and she ran a blinder today.”

Brown said he wasn’t entirely surprised to see Lewis Bay in front from the outset.

“She had been training so sharp the last couple of weeks, wanting to run, and given that layoff, as a handicapper, you’d imagine she’d be a little sharper today and she was,” Brown said. “As a team, in the paddock today, we said if she breaks really sharp take it to the favorite and see what happens and that’s exactly what he (Irad) did.”

Brown said if Lewis Bay remains healthy, the plan is to campaign her throughout 2018.

“This was a terrific spot to get her started, it worked out well, and it gives us a lot of options going forward,” Brown said. “A one-turn mile is a really good race for her, it looks like this is really what she wants to do.”

Former claimer Rich Mommy became a graded stakes winner in her first try, circling horses into the stretch en route to a two-length victory over fellow longshot Bodacious Babe in the $100,000, Grade 3 Sugar Swirl. Defending champion Dearest came up empty upon settling into the stretch, finishing a tiring fourth as the 1-2 favorite.

The Sugar Swirl was the third straight win for Rich Mommy, a 3-year-old daughter of Algorithms who is owned by Winds of Change Racing Stable and trained by Victor Barboza Jr. She paid $27.20 after negotiating six furlongs in 1:10.44 under jockey Luis Saez.

“The filly had been doing good for the race and the distance was perfect for her,” Barboza said. “We have taken it step by step with this filly, and at the moment she is doing very well.”

Barboza said the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie on Jan. 27 could be next for Rich Mommy.