Winning in the rain: Lady Shipman takes License Fee Stakes
NEW YORK (AP) Lady Shipman easily beat three rivals Sunday in the $100,000 License Fee Stakes for fillies and mares at rainy Belmont Park.
The 1-2 favorite, Lady Shipman was making her first start since running a disappointing seventh in the Al Quoz Sprint five weeks ago in Dubai.
Showing no ill effects from the lengthy trip, Lady Shipman ran with the early pace-setter Shrinking Violet before pulling clear at the top of the lane. The 4-year-old trained by Kiaran McLaughlin rolled to a three-length victory over Zindaya. It was her 10th win in 15 career starts.
''In Dubai, she missed the break and I had to push on her a little bit,'' jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said. ''She still got beat by less than three lengths. For me, that was a very good race. She came back and proved she is a nice filly. She was ready today.''
The time was 1:07.49 for the six furlongs over the softened course rated good.
Lady Shipman paid $3.10 and $2.10.
Zindaya returned $2.50.
Shrinking Violet was third followed by Vicki's Dancer.
There was no show betting.