Scalable enjoys the cutback in Interborough

A decision to cut Scalable back in distance paid dividends Saturday for her connections as the 4-year-old filly rallied from last to wear down St. Benedicts Prep and win the $145,500 Interborough Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths at Aqueduct.

St. Benedicts Prep, second a week ago in the What a Summer Stakes at Laurel, finished second Saturday by four lengths over favored Socially Selective. Caldwell Luvs Gold finished fourth followed by Cara’s Time. Just Music and Dame Cicno scratched.

Scalable, trained by Todd Pletcher for Mike Repole, had made her last six starts around two turns including a victory in the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks last summer. Most recently, she finished third in the Grade 3 Comely Stakes.

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Pletcher said there was talk about running Scalable in the Ladies Stakes at Aqueduct two weeks ago, but Pletcher already had Tizzy in the Sky and Julia Shining for that race.

“I talked to Mike and his team and said let’s try cutting this filly back and it worked out well,” said Pletcher, who ran one-two in the Ladies with Tizzy in the Sky and Julia Shining. “She’s by Speightstown, I think she’s versatile and she runs well fresh.”

St. Benedicts Prep who came from off the pace last week at Laurel, was on the lead Saturday under Jose Lezcano. St. Benedicts Prep, under Jose Lezcano, opened up a one-length advantage through a quarter in 23.46 seconds and a half-mile in 46.28, stalked by Cara’s Time. Socially Selective joined the fray entering the far turn.

Scalable, patiently ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, came with a wide, sweeping move, was within a half-length of St. Benedicts prep at the eighth pole and gradually wore her down in the final furlong.

“We expected to get out-footed a little early on, but it worked out well,” Pletcher said.

Scalable covered the seven furlongs in 1:25.05 and returned $11 to win.

“I wanted to make sure I break her good and keep her in striking distance,” Carmouche told the New York Racing Association publicity department. “I didn't want her to drop back so far – they can lose their competitiveness when they're not around horses. Once I got to the half-mile, I saw everybody still sitting, so I just said, 'Forget it' and pulled the trigger. I knew she would keep going because she'd run those long distances. She got it done.”

Pletcher said he would consider keeping Scalable in New York and perhaps run her back in the Heavenly Prize Invitational going a one-turn mile on Feb. 22.

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