Newly Minted gives Rice her fourth consecutive Bouwerie victory

ELMONT, N.Y. - Jose Lezcano continued his superb riding, which enabled trainer Linda Rice to continue her stranglehold of the $125,000 Bouwerie Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park on Monday.

Newly Minted, who had never been behind horses in the afternoon or raced on a dry track, handled both with ease Monday, stalking the pace from the inside before being tipped out into the clear above the eighth pole and running by Cash Offer to win the seven-furlong Bouwerie by 2 1/2 lengths. Cash Run held second by 1 3/4 lengths over Behind the Couch. Elegant Zip was fourth, followed by Wadadli Princess and Espresso Shot. Pat’s No Fool scratched.

For Rice, it was the fourth straight year she won the Bouwerie. Her streak began in 2016 with Flatterywillgetyou and continued in 2017 with Holiday Disguise and 2018 with Midnight Disguise.

For Lezcano, it was his second straight win on Monday’s card - both for Rice - and his meet-leading 29th of the Belmont spring/summer season.

For Newly Minted, it was her third win from as many starts. Newly Minted is a daughter of Central Banker who was purchased for $110,000 at the 2018 Ocala Breeders’ Sales 2-year-old-in-training auction but who didn’t make it to the races until the following April.

Rice explained that Newly Minted had bucked shins coming out of the sale then a myriad of other things delayed her making it to the races until April 13 when she won a maiden race at Aqueduct by 5 3/4 lengths. She came back a week later to win the Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes by 7 1/2 lengths.

Though her two wins had come in front-running fashion - and over wet tracks - Rice figured she would have to change tactics on Monday. Rice knew Cash Offer was likely faster than her filly and instructed Lezcano to take back.

Lezcano found himself third, along the inside, while Cash Offer set fractions of 23.19 seconds and 46.58 while maintaining a one-length lead over Behind the Couch.

It wasn’t until upper stretch, that Lezcano was able to get Newly Minted off the rail. Once in the clear, she set sail after Cash Offer, passing her at about the sixteenth pole and drawing clear for the win.
Newly Minted, owned by the Beach Haven Thoroughbreds, covered seven furlongs in 1:22.07 and returned $3.80 as the 4-5 favorite.

“I didn’t want to get in a speed duel and set it up for [Espresso Shot],” Rice said. “It looked like she was climbing a little bit from the dirt for the first three-eighths or half a mile and then I was nervous about her getting through. Usually when they struggle to find a spot and you’re waiting, waiting, waiting and you push the button they don’t always respond. But I was thrilled with the way she responded.”

Rice said there are two avenues she could take with Newly Minted. An ambitious plan could include the Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride at Belmont on July 5 with an eye on the Grade 1 Test later this summer at Saratoga. A more conservative plan could include an attempt at stretching out in distance but staying in New York-bred company in a race like the $75,000 New York Oaks at Finger Lakes on July 20.