Sister Otoole avoids traffic in CTT and TOC Stakes victory
DEL MAR, Calif. – Sister Otoole, benefitting from the firm ground she craves, getting a heady ride from Umberto Rispoli, and avoiding the traffic woes that plagued several rivals, outstayed seven other long-winded fillies Friday at Del Mar to capture the $101,500 CTT and TOC Stakes.
Sister Otoole shipped in earlier this week from Fair Hill in Maryland along with Spendarella, who goes in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Saturday. Graham Motion, their trainer, sent along his trusty assistant Alice Clapham, who has been here so often over the years she may end up having to pay state taxes.
“Hopefully, we can keep it going tomorrow,” Clapham said as Sister Otoole came back to the winner’s circle.
Sister Otoole trailed early in the 1 3/8-mile grass race, but vaulted to contention early on the backstretch when Rispoli sent her boldly outside rivals to advance to third. That put her in position to outkick the leaders over the final three furlongs, and by being outside she was away from the traffic that compromised the likes of Freedom Lass and, especially, Almost a Factor, who took up sharply entering the far turn.
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Stewards reviewed videotape of that portion of the race, debating whether Scarabea, who finished second, had caused the incident, but ruled unanimously to let the result stand.
Sister Otoole ($11) prevailed by a half-length over Scarabea, with Bellamore another 1 1/4 lengths back in third. Macadamia was fourth, and was followed, in order, by Neige Blanche, Duvet Day, Freedom Lass, and Almost a Factor.
Fearless Girl was scratched.
Neige Blanche, favored at 4-5 and the defending race winner, sat a seemingly perfect trip inside and just behind the leaders, but merely went one-paced through the lane.
Sister Otoole was winless in five starts this year, but had been largely competing in graded stakes company. This race offered a bit of class relief. And the firm turf at Del Mar was welcomed.
“We’ve been trying to get her on firm ground. At Belmont and at Delaware,” Clapham said, referring to the last two places Sister Otoole had raced, “the turf was too soft. She loves ground she can get over the top of.”
Sister Otoole, 5, is by Amira’s Prince out of the Distorted Humor mare O’Toole. This was only her third win in 17 starts, but she’s finished in the money 11 times, and with the $60,000 winner’s share on Friday boosted her bankroll to just shy of $300,000 for her owners, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.