Strict Compliance gets up late to win Boiling Springs by a nose

Strict Compliance wore down the pacesetting Isabella Sings in the shadow of the wire to win the Grade 3 Boiling Springs Stakes by a nose Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Strict Compliance, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Joe Bravo, lagged back early in the $105,000 Boiling Springs, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares. She steadily advanced while three wide on the far turn, came up outside the front-running Isabella Sings in upper stretch, and was all out to get up.

Isabella Sings, who cut out a quick pace of 22.14 seconds, 45.81, and 1:10.01 on an open lead, had plenty left for the stretch run. She fought bravely to the wire and just missed. It was three lengths farther back in third to Pine Needles, who went willingly but lacked a closing bid.

Strict Compliance paid $4 as the favorite in the eight-horse field. She was timed in 1:46.68 and now has won 4 of 7 starts and $302,600. She finished third behind a slow pace in the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga in her prior start but benefited Saturday from realistic fractions.

“They kind of ran away from us early, and I had to make my move a little earlier than I would have liked,” Bravo said. “But she really kicked it in when it mattered.”

Bishop’s Pond, who finished fourth at 5-1, had traffic problems along the inside nearing the far turn and also raced in traffic in upper stretch.