Ruby Notion takes control to win Colleen

Ruby Notion, the 6-5 favorite over seven other 2-year-old fillies, took command from the start and gave nothing a chance on the front end Sunday in the $60,000 Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The daughter of Great Notion, owned by Silverton Hill LLC and trained by Wesley Ward, went right to the lead after the break, widened her advantage on the turn, and was unthreatened to the wire. Ruby Notion covered the five furlongs in 56.77 seconds over a firm turf course.

"She just broke easy and so quick from the gate," said winning jockey Rafael Hernandez, who rode Ruby Notion ($4.60) to a 3 1/4-length win in her debut over the main track at Churchill Downs back in May. “Once we turned for home, she had plenty left.”

After her debut, Ward took the bay filly to England, where she finished fifth in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, tiring after showing early speed. She had no such trouble in the Colleen, racing through an opening quarter in 21.65 and a half-mile in 44.46 while well clear of the pressing Wolfie. Into the stretch she maintained a comfortable advantage and wasn't really under pressure to the wire, winning by 2 1/4 lengths over a rallying Tight Weave.

"She is even better now on the grass than she was the first time I rode her on the dirt," said Hernandez, who was making his first appearance of the season at Monmouth.

Silver Majorette closed to get the show, and Wolfie held on to finish fourth.