Sport Model comes flying late to win Statue of Liberty
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- An extra furlong, an extra five pounds, and a new rider made little difference to Sport Model, who narrowly defeated Funwhileitlasted for the second time in less than seven weeks when up in the final jump to post a nose decision in Wednesday’s $150,000 Statue of Liberty Division of the New York Stallion Series.
Sport Model got the early jump on Funwhileitlasted, holding that rival off by a half-length to take the opening leg of the 3-year-old filly turf division of the Sire Series at Belmont Park on June 19. Sport Model conceded Funwhileitlasted five pounds off the pair’s previous meeting while stretching out to a mile for the first time in the Statue of Liberty. She was also ridden for the first time by Irad Ortiz Jr., replacing Luis Saez, who guided Sport Model to victory in her previous start but opted to take the call on Shesadirtydancer instead on Wednesday.
Unlike her previous outing when stalking the early pace, Sport Model was reserved near the rear of the six-horse field while racing five wide into the opening bend. Sport Model appeared like she might have too much left to do when the field turned into the stretch but responded to left-hand urging from Ortiz to run down Funwhileitlasted in the shadow of the wire.
Funwhileitlasted, who raced at the back of the pack in her previous meeting with Sport Model, was kept close from the outset in the rematch, stalking the early pace of Shesadirtydancer before assuming command on the final bend. Funwhileitlasted, who went postward a very tepid favorite at 8-5 over Sport Model, drew off to a seemingly comfortable advantage nearing midstretch but could not quite contain the winner’s closing surge. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to third place finisher Byhubbyhellomoney.
Sport Model, a 3-year-old daughter of Freud, is trained by Christophe Clement for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. She completed the distance in 1:37.91 over a firm course and returned $5.70.
“She trained well and she looked good and it was a very good ride from Irad,” said Clement. “I told [Ortiz] that there’s too much speed in the race, that she need to relax in order to finish. He did a great job switching her off and she finished very well. I’m not exactly sure where she’ll go next. You have to be careful and see how much improvement we get, seven-eighths to a mile, not anything farther at the moment.”