North County remains unbeaten with Untapable Stakes score
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
A maiden win on turf, an allowance victory in the slop, and an Untapable Stakes score Sunday at Fair Grounds on a fast main track. Three races, three different surfaces, and no losses yet for the 2-year-old filly North County.
“She’s universal – doesn’t seem to matter to her,” said jockey Adam Beschizza, who’s been aboard for the trio of successes. “She’s tough, small, and mighty.”
North County, by Not This Time out of Northern Netti, by City Zip, debuted at Indiana Grand and won easily, that turf success leading trainer Brendan Walsh to enter the filly in a Keeneland turf allowance. The race was rained onto a sloppy main track and North County, just shy of 12-1, came home two lengths best.
On Sunday, North County was a 7-2 second choice behind odds-on Cocktail Moments, who was a blowout debut winner at Churchill Downs but whose route debut Sunday came loaded with trouble. Not so for North County, who stalked outside and in the clear as Shotgun Hottie sped off to a clear lead, going a half-mile in a solid 47.86 seconds, pursued by Fannie and Freddie. Fannie and Freddie swept to the lead in upper stretch, but North County cut into her advantage at the furlong grounds and hit the front in the final 50 yards to win by a neck.
The winner clocked 1:43.17 for one mile, 70 yards, and paid $9.80 to win.
“She’s a filly that’s very talented and we think there’s more to come from her,” said Paul Madden, Walsh’s assistant. “She wants to win races.”
North County races for Rebecca Hillen, Stonecrest Farm, and Bruno de Julio. She earned 10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks while the three fillies behind her – Fannie and Freddie, Cocktail Moments, and Shotgun Hottie, got 4, 2, and 1, respectively.
Cocktail Moments, meanwhile, could manage only third after encountering significant trouble in her first route race and first start against other winners. Away somewhat awkwardly, Cocktail Moments raced well off the pace down the backstretch and settled in behind third choice California Angel past the half-mile pole and around the turn. California Angel, however, was going nowhere and Cocktail Moments, stuck behind her, came into the homestretch with plenty of work to do. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. went for an inside run with Cocktail Moments, sensed that hole was closing, and steered sharply outside at the eighth pole. His mount was slow to change leads and could not adequately quicken as North County went on to her third victory.