Pomeorys Pistol punches Breeders’ Cup ticket in Gallant
Bloom
For a third time in the past four runnings, a three-year-old has upstaged her
elders in the $150,000
Gallant Bloom H. (G2), Belmont Park’s 6 1/2-furlong dash for fillies and
mares. The heroine Saturday was POMEROYS PISTOL (Pomeroy), who provided
owner-trainer Amy Tarrant not only a victory but an excuse to make travel plans
for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) in Louisville, Kentucky.
Tracking in second as 2010 Gallant Bloom runner-up Moontune Missy (Forest
Wildcat) reeled off splits of :22 and :45, Pomeroys Pistol began to apply more
pressure on that rival approaching the quarter pole. Seizing control entering
the stretch, Pomeroys Pistol was kept to task by Javier Castellano and
successfully fended off a challenge from 4-1 third choice Tamarind Hall (Graeme
Hall). Pomeroys Pistol extended her margin to four lengths at the wire and
completed the distance in 1:16 3/5 over the good main track.
“I thought she was absolutely awesome,” Tarrant said. “It was the best result
we could possibly expect: it wasn’t by a nose, it wasn’t by a head. She pretty
much dominated, I think, in the race. We’re very excited about it, and now she
is going to go home for a nice rest and we’re going to be looking towards the
Breeders’ Cup (Filly & Mare Sprint) for her. We’ll be staying at Monmouth and
shipping out to Kentucky on (October 31).”
The Filly & Mare Sprint, contested at seven furlongs, is scheduled for
November 4 at Churchill Downs.
Pomeroys Pistol paid $6.10, $3.40 and $3.10 as the 2-1 second choice.
Tamarind Hall had a 1 1/2-length lead on 14-1 longshot Lovely Lil (Tiznow) for
runner-up honors, with 18-1 chance Moontune Missy 1 3/4 lengths farther back in
fourth. Even-money favorite Tar Heel Mom (Flatter) raced along the rail down the
backside and failed to muster a rally. At the finish she narrowly held off
Buckleupbuttercup (Najran), who trailed throughout. Katy Now (Tiznow) was
scratched.
Pomeroys Pistol was a debut winner at Monmouth last August, ran fifth in the
Sorority S. and then was third in an allowance to conclude her juvenile
campaign. Second in the Old Hat S. (G3) to kick off her 2011 season, she
rebounded to clinch the Forward Gal S. (G2) at Gulfstream by three parts of a
length. After a third in the Davona Dale S. (G2) and sixth in the Eight Belles
S. (G3), Pomeroys Pistol got a confidence booster winning the Just Smashing S.
at Monmouth by 4 1/2 lengths. She preceded this victory with second-place
efforts in the Prioress S. (G1) and Test S. (G1). Her bankroll now sits at
$450,178 from a line of 11-4-3-2.
Bred in Florida by Hardacre Farm, Pomeroys Pistol was produced by the unraced
Prettyatthetable (Point Given), making her a half-sister to the stakes-placed
D’cats Meow (D’wildcat), a yearling colt by Indy Wind and a weanling filly by
Indy Wind. Pomeroys Pistol’s second dam was the multiple stakes winner
Swearingen (Deposit Ticket), who hails from the family of Grade 1 winners Harlan
(Storm Cat) and Things Change (Stalwart).