Semper Sententiae notches first stakes win in River Memories

Some much-appreciated class relief and a perfectly judged ride by jockey John Velazquez put Semper Sententiae back in the winner’s circle on Friday at Belmont Park as the filly scored her first victory in 10 months in the $100,000 River Memories Stakes.

Semper Sententiae had been Grade 2 stakes-placed twice and Grade 3 stakes-placed twice in her four previous starts this season, most recently finishing third behind Homerique in the Grade 2 New York earlier in the meet. Her only previous victory came in a 1 1/4-mile maiden race at Belmont Park last September.

Velazquez, who was aboard Semper Sententiae in the New York as well as for her second-place finish behind Santa Monica in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay, placed the 4-year-old daughter of The Factor in perfect striking position on Friday, stalking the pace of Scottish Jig during the early stages of the 1 1/2-mile River Memories. Semper Sententiae ranged up to challenge the leader leaving the quarter pole, edged clear through midstretch, then readily maintained a safe advantage over Fools Gold under vigorous urging to the wire. The final margin was 1 3/4 lengths.

Fools Gold, stakes-placed in her previous two starts but who’d never raced beyond 1 1/16 miles prior to Friday, commenced her bid on the final turn, moved within easy striking distance of the winner through the furlong grounds, but proved no match at the end. She was easily second-best, finishing 3 1/4 lengths in front of the tiring Scottish Jig, who was followed by Homeland Security and Sky Full of Stars. Matty’s Magnum was eased.

Only six of the 13 horses originally entered to contest the River Memories actually started. Four of those scratched from the race were cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware Park while a fifth, Another Broad, was a main-track-only entrant.

Semper Sententiae is trained by Mark Hennig for owner John O’Connor. She completed the distance over a firm course in 2:25.48 and returned $6.40.

“We wanted to put her in a spot where we felt like she had a good shot to win,” said Hennig. “She kind of deserved that. She’s got some nice graded black type, but to make her a stakes winner is important for her pedigree and the family. I’m really happy for the filly and the O’Connors. Johnny gave her an excellent ride, just like we talked about. We’ve been looking to get her back to that distance because Johnny said she really liked it.”

Hennig said Sempter Sententiae could make her next start in the Grade 3 Waya at Saratoga on August 4, also run at 1 1/2 miles.