NYRA/Joe Labozzetta
By Sarah Mace
After rating kindly in fourth, William C. Schettine’s Isabelle (Successful Appeal) scooted through a gap at the rail in midstretch and quickly opened up a commanding lead to capture the third running of Aqueduct’s $100,000 Sunday feature, the Bay Ridge Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles over the inner track.
A 5-year-old Bill Mott-trainee, Isabelle was no factor in her previous race, this year’s sloppy running of the Empire Distaff on Showcase Day. Although she started well, Isabelle was through after the first half-mile, and finished nearly 30 lengths behind runaway winner Bar of Gold. Two starts back, however, in the Saratoga Dew, Isabelle finished a clear second to Jules N Rome, one of her rivals on Sunday, after setting the pace. Parting company for the day with regular jockey Junior Alvarado, who was aboard Jules N Rome, Isabelle was ridden postwards by Kendrick Carmouche at odds of 9-1 in the eight-horse field.
After suffering a little jostling at the start, Isabelle soon settled in fourth and saved ground through the clubhouse turn. Meanwhile Jules N Rome had crossed over from her outside post and struck the front, prompted by First Service, just to her outside.
Isabelle navigated the backstretch just off the rail in the two path and continued to travel comfortably behind the leaders through a moderate half-mile in 49.43. In the far turn she moved back to the rail, as Kathy’s Humor moved up three-wide to challenge the Jules N Rome and First Service.
Isabelle got her golden opportunity just short of the furlong marker, when Jules N Rome came out just enough to open a gap to her inside. Carmouche said “Go!”
Isabel scooted though the opening and shot to the front under right-handed urging. In a split second, she had left her three rivals in her wake and assumed a commanding lead. She won by 5 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:47.15. Favored Super Surprise got a head in front of 14-1 longshot Kathy’s Humor to grab second. Jules N Rome, Literata, Mecke’s Madalyn, First Service and Storied Lady completed the order of finish. [VIDEO]
NYRA/Chelsea Durand
“It was a smooth trip,” said Carmouche. “I was sitting at the half-mile [pole] and I reached and grabbed her again and I was just looking for a spot. As soon as I saw Junior [Alvarado]’s horse [Jules N Rome] getting out when she switched leads, I planted myself back to the rail and just waited for the rail to open. It opened and made me look like a hero today. I’m just really pleased that Mr. Billy Mott and the owners gave me a shot on the filly, that’s the most important thing.”
Bill Mott’s assistant (and son) Riley Mott had plenty of praise for both horse and rider to spread around. “Heading into the race it looked like there was some outside speed and she’s shown some speed in her other races going long, but Kendrick got an absolutely perfect trip,” Mott said. “He got her nice and relaxed and obviously came up the inside and she was loaded on the turn for home. It was good performance on the jockey and the filly.”
Mott added, referring to Isabel’s 5-3-0-0 record on the inner oval, “She’s maybe a horse for the course, she loves the inner track and it’s nice to see her comeback and make a performance like that. She’s maybe had a few races that weren’t like she had run before but we were thrilled with today.”
Isabelle began her career under the care of Lisa Lewis, for whom who she broke her maiden sprinting at Belmont in May of 2014 and, three weeks later, won the seven-furlong Bouwerie Stakes.
Moving to Mott’s barn in January 2015 after clearing her state-bred conditions, Isabelle reeled off two straight victories, winning an open allowance, then the Broadway Stakes but in eight subsequent starts had only hit the board twice before her big win on Sunday.
Bred by Bluegrass Farm Partners and Jeffrey Tucker, and foaled at Tucker’s Stonebridge Farm in Gansevoort, Isabelle is out of Florida-bred stakes-placed runner Merrill Gold, who has produced four winners in all. Merrill Gold foaled a full brother to Isabelle this year, and was bred to Competitive Edge in the spring
Isabelle was purchased by Schettine at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton New York select yearling sale for $100,000. She now has six wins, topped by three stakes victories, and three seconds from 17 starts. She has earned $392,102.
