Off Limits wins Noble Damsel in stakes-record time

ELMONT, N.Y. – Off Limits struggled in her first year of racing in North America. She has blossomed in her second. On Saturday, Off Limits unleashed a powerful closing kick under Joel Rosario to rally from last and win the Grade 3, $200,000 Noble Damsel Stakes by 4 3/4 lengths in stakes-record time at Belmont Park.

Off Limits, who returned $5.40 as the 8-5 favorite, covered the mile over firm ground in 1:32.51, the fastest of 22 runnings of the Noble Damsel contested at one mile on turf. Tates Creek (1:32.79) had been the previous fastest winner of the Noble Damsel.

It was the third victory in four starts this year for Off Limits, her first in a stakes.

Last year, Off Limits lost five consecutive races in the second-level allowance condition before being put away by trainer Chad Brown. Off Limits began her career in Ireland, where she won once in four starts for trainer David Wachman.

“Chad and Mr. [Martin] Schwartz gave her time off last year, and it seemed to really be what she was needing,” said Cherie DeVaux, Brown’s assistant. “They just wanted to give her some time to grow and mature.”

Off Limits was away from the races for nine months before winning a second-level allowance at Belmont on June 1. One month later, she was beaten a neck by On Leave in the Perfect Sting Stakes here. On Aug. 12, she won a third-level allowance at Saratoga.

On Saturday, Off Limits was last of five early on while Sassy Little Lila, under Julien Leparoux, set fractions of 23.67 seconds for the quarter and 46.78 for the half, stalked by Time and Motion and Celestine.

Off Limits was six lengths off the pace but well in hand and moving comfortably. Approaching the quarter pole, Off Limits had dragged Rosario closer to the contenders, but she was still last. Rosario tipped Off Limits five wide, and without really asking her, Off Limits ran by the field in the final furlong to win going away.

Sassy Little Lila held second by a head over Celestine, who was a head better than Time and Motion. Malibu Stacy finished last.

Though an expected pace duel between Celestine and Sassy Little Lila didn’t materialize, Rosario said he was confident with waiting for Off Limits to make her move.

“I was keeping my eye on the horse who was on the lead,” Rosario said. “They got away from me a little bit, but my horse was very comfortable. I didn’t want to change anything. Before the quarter pole, I got close to the leaders without asking her to do too much. I had a lot of confidence at that point she was going to run a big race.”

Unless her connections have bigger targets, Off Limits could return in the Grade 3, $200,000 Athenia at 1 1/16 miles here on Oct. 28.