Social Fortress successfully stretches out, stays perfect in Sorority Stakes

Social Fortress did to her six opponents in the $200,000 Sorority Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park what she had done to eight maiden foes making her career debut July 13 at Delaware Park – crushed ’em.

Taken straight to the lead, and opening a commanding one, Social Fortress never had an anxious moment capturing the Sorority, a two-turn dirt mile for 2-year-old fillies, by seven lengths. She paid just $2.80, heavily bet after romping by 11 lengths in her only previous outing.

With Jaime Rodriguez aboard – taking over from Dexter Haddock, who rode the filly first time out – Social Fortress set splits of 24.14 and 48.19 while racing some four to five lengths clear of Yellow and Vino Limone, the two fillies in closest attendance. The margin narrowed into the far turn, and at the three-eighths pole, the outcome hadn’t entirely been decided, but by the time she straightened for home, Social Fortress was long gone.

Rodriguez rode Social Fortress very vigorously to the wire as she clocked 1:40.05 over a fast track.

Yellow, in from New York for trainer Todd Pletcher and Repole Stable after a runner-up debut performance, checked in a distant second, one length better than Hollywood Beauty in a spread-out field.

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Social Fortress debuted in an off-turf, five-furlong race, taking an early lead and dominating, but she had no trouble doing the same thing racing three furlongs farther and stepping up a notch in class, though the Sorority was far from a tough spot. The race originally was scheduled for Aug. 18 but failed to fill and was brought back this weekend.

Jamie Ness trains Social Fortress for Joseph Imbesi, who bred Social Fortress through a mating of Social Inclusion and the Parading mare Cold Hearted Pearl.

Social Inclusion stands for a listed $5,000 stud fee and Social Fortress is the first named foal from Cold Hearted Pearl, a low-level claimer during her racing career, and you can bet that bloodstock agents will be inquiring about Social Fortress’s availability. She’s already banked $144,000 with further profit perhaps just around the corner.

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