Sis City much the best in Demoiselle
Sanford Goldfarb et al’s SIS CITY (Slew City Clew) took the
lead soon after the start of Saturday’s $200,000 Demoiselle S. (G2)
at the Big A and never looked back, drawing clear by 3 3/4
lengths at the wire in the 1 1/8-mile fast track affair.
With John Velazquez in the irons, the bay miss was sent right
to the front and was never threatened by Jerry Bailey and Salute
(Unbridled), who tracked just off the leader. Winning Season (Lemon
Drop Kid) was right behind those two, and that trio ran 1-2-3
through splits of :24 2/5, :48 1/5, 1:12 2/5 and 1:37 1/5 for the
mile. Nearing midstretch, those three drew away from the field,
and a resilient Winning Season, at 16-1, fought back to threaten
Salute for second, but the Richard Dutrow-trained Sis City was
much the best as she kicked clear of those two to stop the
teletimer at 1:50 1/5.
Sent off as the post-time favorite at 2-5, coupled with
Natalie Jane (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway), Sis City rewarded her
backers with $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10, keying a mere $4.50 exacta.
Salute came next, worth $2.20 and $2.10 as the near 3-1 second
choice, and Winning Season was just a nose back in third,
returning $2.10 and finishing a $16 trifecta (1-3-4). Secrets
Galore (Honour and Glory) came next, followed by K.D.’s Shady
Lady (Maria’s Mon), Natalie Jane and Money Helps (Coronado’s
Quest).
Sis City was bred in the Bluegrass State by Heiligbrodt Racing
Stable and is the first foal to race out of Smart Sis (Beau
Genius). This is her first graded stakes and her third lifetime
win, as she improves her mark to 7-3-0-2 with earnings of $282,980.
In her previous outing, Sis City recorded a commendable fourth-place
finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), which had a
much quicker pace.
“She relaxed early on,” Velazquez said. “Going
into the first turn, she put her ears up and relaxed really,
really good. In the Breeders’ Cup, we were going much faster than
we did today, that’s why she had so much left today.”