Meadowlands: No separating Princess Deo and Evident Beauty in SBOA final

It was more than a fitting way to end the New Jersey stakes season as Evident Beauty and Princess Deo could not be separated and finished in a dead-heat in the $65,000 SBOA of New Jersey final on Friday night at The Meadowlands.

The two fillies both by Trixton were locked in a bitter battle throughout the homestretch with Princess Deo and driver Andrew McCarthy cutting the pace and Evident Beauty with David Miller trying to track her down on the outside. In the end the photo could not separate the pair as both crossed the wire in 1:52 2/5 setting personal bests.

Lucius Vorenus blasted out of the gate from the outset from his pole position and cut the first quarter in 28 1/5 with Princess Deo landing in a three-hole ahead of the 1-5 favorite Evident Beauty. On the backstretch McCarthy sent Princess Deo to the front and the filly crossed over before the 55 4/5 clocking.

Miller was patient with the heavy favorite and got Evident Beauty underway without cover after the half. Evident Beauty moved onto equal terms with Princess Deo past three quarters in 1:24 1/5, setting up the stretch battle. Though Evident Beauty appeared to be edging by in the late stages, McCarthy went to an all-out drive late and Princess Deo rallied back to earn the tie.

Richard "Nifty" Norman trains Evident Beauty for owners Melvin Hartman, Little E LLC and R A W Equine Inc. Princess Deo is trained by Noel Daley for owners Deo Volente Farms, Tom Pontone and John Fodera.
Lucius Vorenus finished third in the mile.

With the dead-heat, Evident Beauty returned $2.10 for the victory with Princess Deo a slightly higher $2.60 mutuel.

The dead-heat was enough to boost Evident Beauty's career earnings above $800,000, with the filly scheduled to be bred to Father Patrick in 2020.