My SIster Sue finishes strongly

It took My Sister Sue six months and five starts to finally win her maiden, and a trip to Charles Town to clear her first allowance condition.

Now that trainer Flint Stites has figured out how to get the most out of My Sister Sue, she's a much improved filly.

Putting together strong back-to-back races for the first time, My Sister Sue ($16) drew clear in the stretch for a 4 1/4-length victory over 9-5 second choice Homesteader in Saturday's $100,000 Primonetta Stakes at Laurel Park.

It was the first stakes win for both the 4-year-old My Sister Sue and her jockey, Katie Lee. The winning time for six furlongs on a fast track was 1:10.71.

My Sister Sue, who easily cleared her second allowance condition three weeks ago, went past even-money favorite Coli Bear on the turn and was never seriously threatened in the stretch while winning for the fourth time in 10 starts.

Erick Rodriguez, the jockey of third-place finisher Coli Bear, claimed foul for interference during the stretch run. The stewards disallowed that objection, but did disqualify the fourth-place horse, La Chica Rica, and moved Scheing E Jet up to fourth.

Stites said My Sister Sue, owned by Aracrest Racing Stables, has several idiosyncrasies that hindered her progress early in her career.

"She doesn't like the whip and she doesn't like to be caught behind horses," Stites said. "She's at the top of her game now."