Wise Rachel goes last to first in Pike Place Dancer

Getting a perfect trip under jockey Alejandro Gomez, Wise Rachel ($10.20) made her turf and route debut a success, roaring through the lane to win the $75,300 Pike Place Dancer at Golden Gate Fields.

Last early, she got a ground-saving trip all the way and eased out for room after leaving the quarter pole. Once in the clear, she finished strongly and looked a winner with her late kick.

She easily gobbled up Convoluted, who had taken the lead in the lane as pacesetting No Cover Charge tired. She proved too strong for favored The Adrie Factor, winning the one-mile turf race by a half-length in 1:38.99. Convoluted was third another 1 1/2 lengths back.

“The filly ran great,” said trainer Quinn Howey. “I liked the way she saved ground, especially on the second turn. That's so important on turf.

“When Gomez saw the hole opening, he asked, and, like a good horse, she went through it.”

Howey wasn't concerned his filly was last during the early running, but did get nervous when he saw the 49-second half-mile split.

He and owner Allen Aldrich had been looking forward to the Pike Place Dancer and getting Wise Rachel on the turf. She's by Breeders' Cup Turf winner English Channel, who won the Eclipse as best turf runner of 2007. Her unraced dam, Wise Impression by Smarty Jones, has one other foal to race whose four career victories all came on turf.

After winning her career debut at Pleasanton, she ran in a pair of $100,000 stakes at Del Mar, finishing third in the CTBA and fourth in the Generous Portion.

“This was her first chance to run at home, and I think that helped her,” said Howey. “She got wound up in the post parade in her other starts, but she was just fine today.”

Wise Rachel, a $7,000 Barretts yearling purchase last October, earned $45,000 for her first stakes victory. She has now earned $83,200.