Denomination gets up by a nose
in Violet
Mrs. Alec Head’s DENOMINATION (Smart Strike) rallied between rivals to the lead
in deep stretch and edged the late-running Unbridled Essence (Essence of Dubai)
by a nose in Monday’s $151,000
Violet S.
(G3) at Monmouth Park. Winner of the Hillsborough S. (G3) two starts
previously at Tampa Bay Downs, the Christophe Clement-trained mare picked up the
services of Joe Bravo on Memorial Day and completed 1 1/16 miles over the firm
turf in 1:41 4/5.
Denomination headed postward as the even-money favorite among seven runners and
paid $4.20, $3 and $2.60 to her many supporters. She saved ground near the back
of the field as Marquet Madness (Pico Central [Brz]) established early fractions
of :25 2/5, :48 2/5 and 1:11 3/5 on a clear lead. The pacesetter had every
chance to steal the race turning for home, but came back to her rivals in the
final sixteenth of mile
After rallying between horses on the far turn, Denomination continued to advance
along the inside in upper stretch. She was angled out a path between foes and
surged to the lead late.
“Heading into the far turn, she gave me the sensation that all she needed was
a hole and she was going to run for me,” Bravo said. “She was well within
herself. I’m just really thankful for being on this horse today.”
Unbridled Essence took the overland route into the stretch and closed boldly on
the far outside, just missing in a head-bobbing finish at 17-1 odds.
It was a length back to 8-5 second choice La Reine Lionne (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]),
who nosed out Marquet Madness for third. Choice Play (Vindication) was 3 1/4
lengths back in fifth and Miss Blakely (Smart Strike) and State Treasure
(Mineshaft) completed the order of finish. Main-track only contestant C C’s Pal
(Alex’s Pal) stayed in the barn.
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 recorded a fast-closing third in the February 12 Endeavour S. (G3) prior
to her neck score in the aforementioned Hillsborough. The five-year-old never
appeared comfortable when trying an all-weather track in her previous outing, an
eighth-place finish in the Doubledogdare (G3) over Keeneland’s Polytrack.
Denomination improved her career ledger to 21-6-4-3, $429,301, with
Saturday’s win.
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. An earner of more than $2.5 million,
Flawlessly compiled nine Grade 1 victories during her 28-race career.