By Bill Heller
Confidently ridden by Javier Castellano, Marc Keller’s talented and ultra-consistent three-year-old filly Quezon, sent off the 1-5 favorite in the field of just five, overhauled front-running Court Dancer, who was 8-1 under Manny Franco, and cruised to a 5 ¼ length victory in the 38th running of the $150,000 Iroquois Stakes on a sloppy track at Belmont Park Saturday, the first of eight New York-bred stakes on Showcase Day.
In doing so, Quezon increased her lifetime earnings to more than a half-million dollars.
Wondermint, who was 8-1 under Joel Rosario, rallied to finish second, four lengths ahead of Court Dancer in third. Frosty Margarita, who was adding blinkers and went off the 5-1 second choice under Irad Ortiz Jr., was a distant fourth.
Apache Farm bred Quezon, a daughter of Tiz Wonderful out of Kalookian Dancer by Olympio who is trained by Bobby Ribaudo. Quezon had finished fourth or better in all her nine previous starts, including a strong second by three-quarters of a length to Paulassilverlining in the Grade 2 Gallant Broom Handicap Oct. 1st on a muddy track.
Dropping back to New York-bred stakes company was one reason Quezon became the overwhelming favorite in the Iroquois. Another was the scratch of Hot City Girl, who was the 6-5 morning line favorite. Quezon, who had split two recent meetings with Hot City Girl when she finished second in both the Dancin Renee Stakes and the Union Avenue Stakes, was 8-5 on the morning line.
Hot City Girl had finished fourth on a muddy track in her only try on a wet surface. Quezon was two-for-four with one second.
“When Linda (Rice, Hot City Girl’s trainer) scratched, it naturally made it much easier on us,” Ribaudo said.
Saturday’s foul weather prompted the New York Racing Association to delay post time for the Iroquois 15 minutes to let the worst of the rain work its way out, which it did.
Ivery Sister Racing’s five-year-old mare Court Dancer, who had been claimed for $40,000 at Saratoga when she won by 6 ¼ lengths three starts back, shot to the lead on the rail in the Iroquois. Leaving from the two post, Quezon settled in second on the outside.
Court Dancer led by a length after a first quarter in :22.72. She stretched her lead to 2 ½ lengths after running a half-mile in :45.74.
Castellano hadn’t asked Quezon yet, and when he did, she responded immediately. Quezon shot past Court Dancer in mid-stretch and won handily in 1:16.38.
“I had a perfect trip,” Castellano said. “She was much the best. She handled the slop well. It’s a big advantage when a horse likes the slop.”
Quezon improved her record to five-for-10 with three seconds and a pair of fourths and earnings topping $510,000.
“This is her last start for the season,” Ribaudo said. “We’re going to bring her back next year. Hopefully, she comes back alright. We’ll maybe try some bigger things next year if she’s as good as she is this year.”
