Lindsay Jean gets winning trip

ALBANY, Calif. - Lindsay Jean benefited from a perfect trip to win the Grade 3 $100,000 Brown Bess Handicap with ease Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

The 5-year-old Lindsay Jean sat behind pacesetting Neon Queen, took command entering the stretch, and was never challenged. She won the 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares by 1 1/2 lengths over late-closing Bush Triumph, who edged favored Crazy Ensign for second by a nose. She paid $15.40 and was timed in 1:44.35 over a yielding course.

"She relaxed well," winning jockey Chad Schvaneveldt said. "Our strategy was to lay off [early leader] Neon Queen and go by her as easy as we could."

Neon Queen, a wire-to-wire winner in a Jan. 20 prep race, took the lead early as expected, setting fractions of 23.33 seconds, 47.94, and 1:12.55. Lindsay Jean sat in second with a clear lead over Janeian, moved up on the turn, and made a quick burst to take command.

"It was just a super race," winning trainer Art Sherman said.

Jockey Frank Alvarado, who rode runner-up Bush Triumph, said, "[Lindsay Jean] took off at the quarter pole, and we just couldn't catch her."

Schvaneveldt said Lindsay Jean had no trouble handling the yielding surface.

"She'll run on nails," he said. "She always gives you everything."

The Brown Bess was Lindsay Jean's third stakes win and was her first start in a graded race. She earned $55,000 for her fifth career victory in 22 starts. She has earned $261,035 for owners Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss.