You Go West Girl gets perfect trip

In a division where they take turns beating each other on a monthly basis, it was finally You Go West Girl's turn to visit the winner's circle.

Benefiting from a beautiful ground-saving ride from Jose Lezcano, You Go West Girl came off the rail at the eighth pole and was able to wear down the pacesetting Stormy Relations by a neck to win Sunday's at Belmont Park. It was a half-length back to Love Cove in a race where three lengths covered first to last in the seven-horse field.

In six previous tries in New York-bred competition, You Go West Girl had one win, a nose victory over Love Cove in last September's Hey Baba Lulu here at Belmont. Most recently, You Go West Girl finished fifth to Nehantic Kat in last month's Yaddo Handicap at Saratoga, a race trainer Tom Proctor said his filly needed.

"I wasn't looking for too much from her that day," Proctor said.

But the race certainly moved You Go West Girl forward. Under Lezcano, You Go West Girl settled into fifth position while Stormy Relations opened up a huge margin running fractions of 24.30 seconds, 48.29, and 1:12.24.

You Go West Girl advanced into contention along the rail before Lezcano guided her to the outside for the final furlong. You Go West Girl caught Stormy Relations late while covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.03. She returned $12 for the win.

"Kudos to Jose Lezcano, ask him who taught him how to ride like that," Proctor said from Kentucky, where he watched the race. "These fillies kind of beat each other day-to-day. I've been second and third to them a few times."

Following Love Cove, the order of finish was Borrowing Base, Stormy Relations, Nehantic Kat, and Crazy Catlady.

The majority of these fillies will likely square off again in the Ticonderoga Handicap here on New York Showcase Day, Oct. 24.

* In the $69,900 Chaldea Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters on turf, Jeremy Rose swung Legally Blanca into the three-path turning for home and, despite racing a little greenly, she was able to outfinish Strike the Bell to win by a half-length. It was 1 3/4 lengths back to Haka in third.

The victory was the meet-leading fifth for trainer Tony Dutrow. Legally Blanca, a daughter of Northern Afleet, covered the seven furlongs in 1:21.79 over a firm Widener turf course and returned $9.90 to win.