Ring True pulls off the upset

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A poor start by odds-on favorite Silvestris helped Ring True post a big upset in Monday's $68,745 at Aqueduct.

Breaking alertly under Norberto Arroyo Jr., Ring True stalked pacesetting Pure Disco, took over from that rival turning for home, and held off a late charge from Vasa to take the Dearly Precious by one-half length. Vasa was second by 6 1/2 lengths over Pure Disco.

Silvestris, the 1-2 favorite, finished fourth of five after breaking slowly and then being rushed up by Eibar Coa. Cinnamon Charlie finished fifth. Oprah Winney was scratched.

It was the second win from as many starts for Ring True, who won her maiden in a pedestrian time (1:13.41) on Jan. 22. Her connections, however, felt it was worth taking a shot in the Dearly Precious, noting she could always drop back to allowance company if it didn't work.

"She improved a lot off of her first race. She was really training good," said Steve Moyer, assistant to Jimmy Jerkens, trainer of Ring True. "We liked her going into the first race. We thought she might need one, but when she jumped up and won on a real slow track, Jimmy said usually first-timers don't do that on the inner dirt when it's real slow. But she had worked like gangbusters twice out of that race."

Silvestris was made the 1-2 favorite off of her dominant win in last month's Ruthless Stakes. But she broke sluggishly on Monday and was rushed up along the inside chasing an opening quarter in 22.45 seconds.

"She broke slow today, and she seems to be a better horse when she's in front," Coa said. "Being back there, she didn't like being hit with the dirt in her face."

Ring True, a daughter of Is It True, ran six furlongs in 1:12.01 and returned $23.60 to win.

With Silvestris finishing off the board, show payoffs ballooned to $17.60, $10.60 and $26.60 for Ring True, Vasa, and Pure Disco, respectively.