Denomination digs deep in Hillsborough

Last updated: 3/12/11 5:46 PM

Denomination got the
winner’s share of the money in the Hillsborough
(Tom Cooley Photography)

Ghislaine Head’s DENOMINATION (Smart Strike) rallied to the lead in
midstretch and gamely repulsed the bid of Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune) in
Saturday’s $150,000

Hillsborough H. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. Trained by Christophe
Clement and ridden by Frederic Lenclud, the five-year-old mare earned
her first U.S. stakes victory with the neck decision and completed the
about 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:48 3/5 over the firm turf. She paid
$26.20, $9 and $5.60 as the 12-1 sixth choice among nine rivals.

Cherokee Queen (Cherokee Run) showed the way through splits in :24
4/5 and :49 2/5 as Denomination tracked her in second, a couple of
lengths back after the opening half-mile. Denomination begin to whittle
away the lead on the far turn and went after the pacesetter in earnest
after entering the stretch. Zagora, the 9-5 in her first start since a
runner-up finish in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. (G1),
rallied wide into the frame off the far turn, sticking a head in front
as she passed the mile mark in 1:37 1/5, but Denomination soon regained
the advantage and out-battled her rival to the wire.

Bred in Kentucky by Brookdale Thoroughbreds, Denomination is out of the
unraced Storm Cat mare Dreamlike and counts as a half-brother 2005 Smile Sprint
H. (G2) and True North H. (G2) winner Woke Up Dreamin (Holy Bull). The
14-year-old mare is also the dam of a yearling colt by Lemon Drop Kid, and
Dreamlike is a daughter of the terrific Flawlessly (Affirmed), who was named
champion turf mare in 1992 and 1993. Flawlessly earned more than $2.5 million
while compiling nine Grade 1 victories during her 28-race career.

Denomination started her racing career in France, compiling victories in the
Prix Vanteaux (Fr-G3) and Prix Finlande as well as three stakes placings,
including a pair of Group 3 events. The bay mare finished second in the 2009
Pebbles S. at Belmont Park but dropped her first six starts in the United States
before capturing a December 29 allowance/optional claiming event at Tampa Bay
Downs. She entered the Hillsborough off a fast-closing third in the February 12
Endeavour S. (G3).

With Saturday’s $90,000 payday, Denomination has now earned $338,884 from a
19-5-4-3 line.