Moonlit Promise, under confident handling by Gary Boulanger, made every pole a winning one in Saturday’s $131,500 La Lorgnette Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Josie Carroll for owner-breeder Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc., Moonlit Promise secured her first added-money score with a front-running effort in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta route, which was reduced to a field of four sophomore fillies following the scratch of Sonic Cyster.
Neshama, the Woodbine Oaks champ, was away alertly in the La Lorgnette and battled for the early lead with the outside-drawn Moonlit Promise as Felt in Pocket and Zermatta settled into stalking positions.
Moonlit Promise assumed command through swift splits of :23.45, :47.46 and 1:12.39 and easily drew off to win by 1 ¾-lengths. Zermatta, the longest shot on the board at 16-1, closed to complete the exactor. Moonlit Promise covered 1 1/16-miles in 1:44.31.
“She broke good, not great, and floated to the lead,” said Boulanger. “When (Eurico Rosa da Silva on Neshama) took back, she had her ears up, and we waited as long as we had to, to see when they wanted to go. She’s a very nice filly. She’s pretty professional.”
From the same family as Court Vision and A.P. Indy, Moonlit Promise arrived at the La Lorgnette from a rallying second-place run in the seven furlong Duchess Stakes.
The Malibu Moon-Smart Surprise bay was making her first trip around two turns.
“We’ve had high hopes for this filly all along,” said Carroll. “I’m just glad that (owner John Sikura) sent her back up here. Her mother ran up here and won up here. It’s kind of special.”
Moonlit Promise, bred in Kentucky by her owner, banked $78,750 in victory while improving her record to three wins and two seconds from five starts.
She paid $3.20 to win. The 5-1 exactor (Zermatta) came back $20.20. There was no place or show wagering. Sonic Cyster was scratched.
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