Plum Ali opens 4-year-old season with Plenty of Grace triumph

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Christophe Clement felt Plum Ali last year was plagued by a few difficult trips in a 3-year-old campaign that saw her win just once from seven starts.

On Saturday, in her 4-year-old debut, Plum Ali parlayed a beautiful trip under Manny Franco into a minor upset, rallying past 1-2 favorite Technical Analysis to win the $100,000 Plenty of Grace Stakes by a half-length at Aqueduct.

It was a head back to Flower Point in third. Alms finished last. Giacosa and Halo City (a main-track-only entrant) were scratched.

The victory came over the same course where Plum Ali ended her 3-year-old campaign with a victory in the Winter Memories Stakes last November. Prior to that, Plum Ali had gone winless in six starts with placings in the Grade 3 Wonder Again and Grade 3 Appalachian.

“She was unlucky last year, she finished second in the Wonder Again, she ran a very good race,” Clement said. “A few of her races … we slightly [overthought] it.”

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On Saturday, in a four-horse field, Clement said he told Franco just to keep Plum Ali close to the pace. Franco had Plum Ali in the second flight, inside of Flower Point about 1 1/2 lengths behind Alms and Technical Analysis, who were side by side through a quarter in 23.99 seconds, a half-mile in 47.48 and six furlongs in 1:10.77.

Turning for home, Franco guided Plum Ali off the rail. Though Technical Analysis was able to get away from Alms, she could not hold off Plum Ali, who surged past late.

Plum Ali, a 4-year-old daughter of First Samurai owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Michael Caruso, covered the mile in 1:35.05 over firm ground and returned $9.40 as the third choice.

Franco said when he saw Alms challenge Technical Analysis on the lead, “I just sat behind those two and it worked out perfect for me. I know my filly’s going to give me a nice kick home because she does that all the time. I was confident when I came out in the stretch.”

Clement said he may consider the Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay on May 14 for Plum Ali’s next start.