Sower remains unbeaten with Jersey Girl triumph

ELMONT, N.Y. - Sower remained undefeated and gave jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. his fifth win of the day after leading nearly every step en route to a convincing 4 3/4-length victory over Devine Mischief in Sunday's $150,000 Jersey Girl Stakes at Belmont Park.

Take Charge Paula, the even-money favorite in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies, finished a wide-running and distant third.

Sower opened her career with two wire-to-wire victories in Maryland, her most recent win coming over a sloppy track on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard at Pimlico on May 18.

Sower broke alertly under Ortiz and quickly opened daylight on the field. She was joined for the lead shortly thereafter by Lezendary, readily disposed of that challenger turning into the stretch and was never seriously threatened thereafter.

Devine Mischief tipped out three wide leaving the turn and rallied mildly to easily outfinish the others. Take Charge Paula, making her first start since finishing 14th and last in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, broke a step slow, was hung wide throughout and was never a serious factor while finishing another 4 1/2 lengths behind Devine Mischief in third.

Pacific Gale, Lezendary, Buy Sell Hold, and Strategic Dreams rounded out the order of finish.

Sower, a daughter of Flatter, is trained by Linda Rice for Leonard Green. She completed six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.92 and paid $11.00.

"She'd won two in a row, but obviously the competition in Maryland was a lot easier than what she faced today and I was quite delighted the way she got through this next hurdle, I thought it was a pretty good race for her," Rice said.

Rice said she was a bit surprised to see Sower make the lead so easily, considering all the other speed in the Jersey Girl lineup.

"I discussed with my clients the possibility we might be better off sitting off the pace today, and I left that up to Irad," Rice said. "He and I discussed it as well, we kind of anticipated sitting her off behind the other speed, but I said if you find yourself on the the lead live with it. And he said afterwards that she broke so sharp he found himself two in front just like that. It was great."

Rice said she felt Sower handled the pace pressure so well that it would now appear she might be able to carry her speed seven furlongs in the future.

"Too early to think about what might be next, but you always have to think about and be hopeful about the Test," Rice said.

The Grade 1 Test will be run at Saratoga on July 21.