Take D' Tour wins Shuvee

In yet another exhibit of the power of early speed, Take D' Tour grabbed the lead at the start of Sunday's $147,000 at Belmont Park, and widened her margin through the stretch under Cornelio Velasquez to win the Grade 2 mile by 5 and one-half lengths over Balletto. Smuggler finished third, Grecian Lover was fourth, and 4-5 favorite Indian Vale finished last of five after chasing the winner and coming up empty in her first start at 4.

"She went to the lead easy. I knew I had a lot of horse at the top of the stretch," said Velasquez. "She's won three in a row and just keeps improving."

Take D' Tour, a shipper from Florida, was winning her third straight race for trainer David Fawkes, and returned $14.40 to win after setting all the fractions of 23.35, 46.28, 1:10.84 and 1:36.10 on a fast main track.

"The little bit of rain we had throughout the day tightened the track up and helped her," said Fawkes. "The Ogden Phipps (June 17) is a good possibility."

Indian Vale had no response on the turn and was beaten nearly 15 lengths in her first start of the year for trainer Todd Pletcher.

"She bobbled a little bit, but recovered well," said Pletcher. "The track was in good shape. We'll check her out."

Garret Gomez, who rode Indian Vale, said: "She was struggling to stay with them from the five-eighths pole home."