Ocean Drive wins Green River Stakes

Ocean Drive, ridden by John Velazquez, stayed unbeaten in three career starts when running off to an easy victory Thursday in the $111,500 Green River Stakes at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Owned by Bonnie and Sy Baskin and trained by Todd Pletcher, Ocean Drive paid $4 as the favorite in a field of eight 2-year-old fillies. Sand Springs, the 3-1 second choice, was second, 4 3/4 lengths behind the winner and another 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Moonlight Sonata.

Before an ontrack crowd of 8,616, Ocean Drive stalked the pace from mid-pack before moving closer in the far turn. After straightening away, she proved easily best, pulling clear under mild urging from Velazquez. She finished in 1:44.30 over a firm turf course.

All three starts for Ocean Drive have been in turf routes. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Belong to Me, she broke her maiden on closing day of the Saratoga meet, then won the Salem County Stakes in her next start at the Meadowlands.

"She's getting it all together," said Velazquez. "She improved from the last time. She handled the track perfect."

The 8-2 exacta paid $11.40 and the 8-2-5 trifecta paid $56.60.