Miss Isella would not be denied in Louisville Distaff

Miss Isella bullied her way to victory (EquiSport Photos)

Domino Stud of Lexington’s homebred MISS ISELLA (Silver Charm) was
content to allow One Caroline (Unbridled’s Song) to set the pace in
Friday’s $379,700

Louisville Distaff (G2) at Churchill Downs, but wouldn’t let that
one get away all the way to the wire. Benefiting from jockey Calvin
Borel’s patented rail-skimming ride, Miss Isella scraped the paint to get
through along One Caroline’s inside, exchanged bumps with that one
throughout the stretch and eventually pulled off to post a
three-quarter-of-a-length victory as the 8-1 fourth pick.

Miss Isella rewarded her faithful backers with payouts of $19.40,
$4.40 and $3.20 while finishing up 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 3/5 on
Churchill’s good, sealed track. One Caroline moved to the front when the
gates opened, setting splits of :23 4/5, :47 3/5, 1:11 3/5 and 1:36 3/5
while trying to move her record to a perfect six-for-six. It wasn’t to
be, though, as the gray lass could not keep strides with the winner
late, returning $2.20 and $2.10 as the 1-2 favorite. Swift Temper
(Giant’s Causeway) tracked in second on the backstretch, but couldn’t
keep pace with the top two, giving back $3.40 for taking third at 8-1
over French Kiss (Hussonet). The exotics were worth $35.40 (exacta),
$131.60 (trifecta) and $463.60 (3-4-1-7 superfecta).

Unbridled Belle (Broken Vow) and Unforgotten (Northern Afleet)
completed the order under the wire after Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) and
Modification (Vindication) were withdrawn.

Miss Isella returned to the site of her Falls City H. (G2) victory
last November to take this one. That race rounded out her sophomore
campaign, and the gray filly has run fourth in her two others starts so
far this season, the Sabin S. (G3) and Doubledogdare S. (G3). The
Louisville Distaff victory improves the Kentucky-bred’s record to
14-5-1-1 and she’s now banked $436,733.