Glencrest Farm’s Disposablepleasure recovered from a bad stumble at the
start, and survived an objection, to prevail as the 6-5 favorite in Saturday’s
Grade 2, $200,000
Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct.
Last after taking a nosedive out of the gate, the Todd Pletcher pupil
advanced on the far turn for Ramon Dominguez, drove to the lead in the stretch,
and just fended off the renewed bid by Wildcat’s Smile by a nose. Then the
objection sign flashed, as David Cohen, the rider of eventual third-place
finisher Bourbonstreetgirl, claimed foul against Dominguez. The stewards took
their time with the replay, but allowed Disposablepleasure to keep her
remarkable victory. She thus became the first U.S. graded winner sired by 2005
Kentucky Derby upsetter Giacomo.
“The only thing I thought (when she stumbled at the start) is maybe it’s Rags
to Riches again,” Pletcher said, alluding to his champion filly’s nosedive at
the start of the 2007 Belmont Stakes that she went on to win.
“That was bad to start with, but she really started her run on the turn,
picked up some momentum, and had to stop again. It was a very courageous effort
for any horse, but especially a two-year-old filly. She’s got a lot of natural
ability, but she showed she’s got some heart and desire to go along with it. For
any horse to win and overcome all that first time going 1 1/8 miles was
impressive, but you don’t see too many two-year-old fillies do that.”
Disposablepleasure’s flubbing the start appeared to compromise her chances in
more ways than one. The gray juvenile had shown early speed in her prior dirt
starts, and wired a Belmont Park maiden by 11 lengths in her latest venture. She
had to go to Plan B in the Demoiselle.
As Disposablepleasure regrouped in the rear, Wee Party led the way through
fractions of :23 4/5, :48 1/5 and 1:13 3/5. Wildcat’s Smile was among the
tightly-knit chasing pack, and began to improve on the far turn. Meanwhile,
Disposablepleasure was rolling from farther back, only to find her path blocked.
Dominguez angled her out to find an outlet for her momentum, and in the process,
she floated Bourbonstreetgirl wider out.
Wildcat’s Smile forged to the front leaving the far turn. There was a great
gap to the inside of the new leader, and Disposablepleasure took advantage.
Powering through, Disposablepleasure rallied past Wildcat’s Smile and looked
ready to pull away. But Wildcat’s Smile came again, and the favorite had to dig
deep. The two fillies crossed the wire in tandem, and the camera had to decide
the winner. Disposablepleasure negotiated 1 1/8 miles on the fast track in 1:53.
“She stumbled to her nose and got back up,” Dominguez said, “and I was
already concerned about her chances from there. She was taking me nicely and
they were backing up in front of me, and both Cohen (aboard Bourbonstreetgirl)
and I went out to avoiding colliding with the fillies in front. Then I had to
take a hold, go back inside, and regroup.”
The winner’s circle festivities and payouts of $4.50, $3.10 and $2.80 had to
wait, however, for the outcome of the objection. Bourbonstreetgirl kept on down the
outside for third, 2 3/4 lengths behind Disposablepleasure. The stewards decided
that the incident on the far turn did not merit a change in the order of finish.
Wee Party held fourth, followed by Brown Eyed Nance, Lady Cohiba, Captivating
Lass, Dreaming of Cara, Awalkinthemoonlite and Indyniable.
Disposablepleasure now sports a mark of 4-2-1-0, $161,600. A closing fourth
in her debut in a 1 1/16-mile turf maiden at Saratoga, she next finished second
to subsequent Grade 2-placed Glinda the Good in her first dirt try at Monmouth.
Disposablepleasure moved forward at Belmont Park on October 6, crushing her
opponents in a dominant display.
Bred by Doug Branham in Kentucky, Disposablepleasure was sold for $45,000 as
a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July. She is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed
stakes victress Romantic Hideaway. Their dam, the With Approval mare My Canada,
is herself a full sister to Grade 3-placed stakes scorer Patriot Love, and a
half-sister to Grade 3 hero and Grade 1-placed Riley Tucker.