Walk Close returns to winner's circle with Modesty triumph

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – It had been more than a year since Walk Close won, but the filly always was coming at the end of her races, and on Saturday at Arlington, she finally got there, winning the Grade 3, $100,000 Modesty Handicap by a half-length over Mango Diva.

The top two were clearly best, with Gaga A, the tepid 3-1 favorite, another 1 3/4 lengths back in third. Riposte finished fourth in another very modest performance by her standards, while Overheard also underperformed, finishing fifth.

Walk Close, a 4-year-old Tapit filly trained by Christophe Clement for Highland Yard LLC, won the first three races of her career, but after she scored a nose victory in the Wild Applause Stakes in June 2014 at Belmont, she lost six times in a row. In two starts this year, Clement appeared to make a commitment to running in longer races, and after a closing third last out in a paceless division of the 11-furlong Keertana Stakes at Churchill (winner Ceisteach won the Robert Dick at Delaware a few minutes before the Modesty), Walk Close finally got there.

Getting a great rail trip from the back third of the field under James Graham – the former Arlington riding champ who will be based at Del Mar starting next week – Walk Close tracked moderate fractions of 24.02 seconds, 49.22, and 1:13.71, beginning her move forward on the far turn. Graham said he never asked until Walk Close saw daylight, and when he steered out and pushed the button, Walk Close took off, running down Mango Diva, who fought back but could not match strides with the winner.

For Mango Diva, the Modesty marked a major step forward after a disappointing North American debut in the Gallorette at Pimlico in May. Racing just behind the leaders while saving ground under Florent Geroux, Mango Diva was in position to win and ran well in defeat.

Walk Close, now 4 for 10 lifetime, was timed in 1:57.08 for 1 3/16 miles over good turf and paid $11.60 to win.