A prosperous New Economy

MIAMI - Saturday's Grand Slam II program at Calder began with a bang when New Economy paid $47.40 after rallying for a 1 1/4-length victory over Jennasietta and 10 other fillies and mares in the .

Under Rosemary Homeister Jr., New Economy rallied four wide around the final turn to take control in the early stretch run of the 1 1/2-mile turf race. She then withstood the final surge of the 29-1 Jennasietta, who had to take up on the final turn. Tweedside attempted to rally with the winner into the stretch, but couldn't sustain her bid and finished third.

Mot Juste, the 2-1 favorite and 118-pound highweight ridden by Jerry Bailey, raced in mid-pack for much of the race and finished seventh. Her uncoupled stablemate, Julie Jalouse, finished fourth.

"The pace was slow and Mot Juste is a one-paced horse who just could not make up the ground," said Christophe Clement, trainer of Mot Juste and Julie Jalouse. Clement failed in his attempt to win a record fifth La Prevoyante.

New Economy, a 4-year-old daughter of Red Ransom and Sunyata, covered the distance in 2:28.55. She is trained by Graham Motion for owner-breeder Robert S. Evans. Motion wasn't present for the race. Assistant trainer David Rock saddled New Economy.

New Economy had finished fifth in the 1 1/8-mile My Charmer at Calder in her last start, and Rock said she might have won that race had it been a sixteenth of a mile longer.

"I wasn't at all surprised that she won," said Rock, who cited New Economy's victory in the 1 3/8-mile R.G. Dick Memorial over the summer at Delaware Park as reason to think she would handle the distance of the La Prevoyante.

"She definitely prefers the harder ground, and the sandy, hard turf course here was perfect for her."

Rock said New Economy will likely be pointed for Gulfstream Park's The Very One Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on the turf Feb. 8.