Parx racing: Winning Image prevails in hard-fought My Juliet

Winning Image got loose on the lead, then had to repel challenges from three rivals in deep stretch to score a narrow victory in Saturday’s $150,000 My Juliet Stakes at Parx Racing.

Sent off as the fourth choice in a field of five fillies and mares, the 5-year-old Winning Image ($12.20) broke fastest of all from the rail under Jose Caraballo and despite ducking in slightly leaving the chute, forged a two-length advantage in the opening quarter-mile, run in 22.15 seconds, of the six-furlong My Juliet.

Nicole H, the narrow favorite at 8-5, appeared poised to put away the pacesetter when she moved to within a head of Winning Image after a half-mile in 44.49.

In midstretch, 9-5 second choice C C’s Pal surged along the rail and Derwin’s Star, the 7-2 third choice, threatened on the outside. The four horses were nearly on even terms in deep stretch before Winning Image dug down and drew clear to prevail by three-quarters of a length, completing the distance in 1:09.46.

In a three-way photo for second, C C’s Pal nosed out Derwin’s Star, who in turn was a nose in front of Nicole H.

It was the second straight stakes win for Winning Image, a daughter of Southern Image trained by Michael Aro for owner Martin Scaridi. She was making her first start since leading wire to wire in the 6 1/2-furlong Langhorne on March 27.

The win, her seventh in 15 lifetime starts, also enabled Winning Image to turn the tables on Nicole H, who beat her by a neck on New Year’s Day in the Interborough at Aqueduct. The $90,000 winner’s share of the purse raised Winning Image’s bankroll to $273,005.

Nicole H, a five-time stakes winner, was sent off as the narrow choice on the basis of her two stakes wins in New York early this year and a runner-up effort by a neck in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap. The New York-based Nicole H, ridden for the first time by Stewart Elliott, was conceding two pounds to Winning Image as the 124-pound highweight. She came into the My Juliet off a fourth-place finish in last month’s Grade 2 Distaff, a seven-furlong race at Aqueeuct.