Society Selection takes Frizette

ELMONT, N.Y. - On Saturday at Belmont Park, trainer Allen Jerkens struck again. Less than

24 hours after saddling Bowman's Band to an upset in the $400,000 Meadowlands Cup, Jerkens scored another upset in the $500,000 with Society Selection.

Society Selection, ridden by Ran Ganpath, an exercise rider for Jerkens, won the Grade 1 Frizette by 1 1/4 lengths over Victory U. S. A. Ashado finished third, 2 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up. It was another 6 3/4 lengths back to the 9-5 favorite, Daydreaming, in fourth. Little Andrea, Eye Dazzler, Please Take Me Out, and Marylebone completed the order of finish in the 1 1/16-mile Frizette.

With a furlong remaining it appeared that Victory U. S. A., who had stalked early pacesetter Please Take Me Out, was on her way to victory, but Society Selection, who came from the back of the pack, was gobbling up ground on the outside.

Society Selection ($18.40) covered the distance in 1:43.95 over a fast track.

An emotional Jerkens, who has won just about every major race in New York during his 53-year career, said he believes this is the first Grade 1 he has won with a 2-year-old.

The Frizette was Society Selection's second start and followed a maiden win at Saratoga on Aug. 18.

"I'm happy for [Ganpath]," said Jerkens, who is known for using little-known riders. "I know who the great riders are, but they can't get on them in the mornings and get a good association with them."

Ganpath, 30, a native of Trinidad, has worked for Jerkens for three years. The Frizette was his first stakes victory in the United States.

"She broke sharp, but [Jerkens] said to take her back because there was a lot of speed in the race," Ganpath said.

Society Selection, a daughter of Coronado's Quest owned by Irving and Marjorie Cowan, will be pointed to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

The last time Jerkens ran a horse in a Breeders' Cup race was in 1994, when Sky Beauty finished ninth in the Distaff. That year, Jerkens also saddled Devil His Due, who finished eighth in the Classic.

"If you can't go with one like [Society Selection] . . . ." said Jerkens, adding that "she should be able to manage two turns."

Society Selection's dam, Love That Jazz, finished second in the 1996 Juvenile Fillies.