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Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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BALTIMORE, 05-17-08---Ben McElroy’s Roshani won a stirring stretch duel to take top prize in the $100,000 Gallorette Handicap (G III) for fillies and mares. Roshani carried jockey John Velazquez to his second win on today’s thirteen race card.
As the field crawled through the first half-mile during pedestrian fractions, Roshani raced in close striking position, just ahead of Lady Digby and jockey Jeremy Rose, who were stalking from third. Both riders sent their mounts past front runner Le Cordon Bleu three furlongs from the finish and the race became a battle between just these two to the finish line. Roshani prevailed by a half length, completing the 1-1/16th mile distance in 1:49.08 over the good turf.
Roshani, who survived a claim of foul by Rose, paid $4.40. The daughter of Fantastic Light is trained by Todd Pletcher. With the victory, she upped her lifetime record to six wins in 11 starts. Her resume includes a win in the Matchmaker Stakes (G 3), contested on the turf at Monmouth Park last summer.
Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Todd Pletcher (trainer, Roshani, winner) – “It unfolded pretty much the way we thought. We thought we could possibly be on the lead. It didn’t look like there was a lot of early pace, but we were happy to follow (Le Cordon Bleu). It was pretty straight-forward. She’s a very classy filly. She shows up and runs hard every time and is consistently good.”
John Velazquez (jockey, Roshani, winner) – “It was a very good trip. The fractions were right. I was expecting that horse (Le Cordon Bleu) to go to the lead. I sat right behind her and just started to wait for the last part of the race. Down the stretch I wanted to feel somebody right next to me, because she got to the lead and started completely looking at the crowd and started to slow down. So I moved out to the other horse, but I never interrupted her or touched her. I just moved close. They claimed foul, but I never touched her.”
Graham Motion (trainer, Lady Digby, 2nd) – “I don’t know if my filly was interfered with, but she ran a really good race and we’re not all that disappointed.”
Jeremy Rose (jockey, Lady Digby, 2nd) – “Once I thought we were interfered with my horse switched leads and dropped the bit on me. We were head and head at the time and had every opportunity to win the race.”
Michael Matz (trainer, Valbenny, 3rd) – “We’re still trying to figure her out. But overall, I’m very pleased with her performance today.”
Edgar Prado (jockey, Valbenny, 3rd) – “She tried hard. She was struggling a little bit with the soft ground.”
-MJC-