Chelsea Durand Photo

Dontlookbackatall leads Clement-trained exacta in $150K License Fee

by Mary Eddy

Dontlookbackatall pounced from just off the pace to lead a Christophe Clement-trained and West Point Thoroughbreds co-owned exacta in Sunday’s Listed $150,000 License Fee, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for older fillies and mares, at Belmont at the Big A.

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing and Titletown Racing Stables, Dontlookbackatall staved off the late bid of stablemate Gal in a Rush to land her first stakes score in her fourth attempt. The daughter of Peace and Justice made the second start of her 4-year-old campaign on the heels of a close runner-up effort in a five-furlong turf tilt in March at Gulfstream Park.

"I wanted a dead heat,” Clement said, with a laugh. “The winner ran great. They went a little slow in the first quarter which was against the other filly [Gal in a Rush] coming from off the pace, but they both ran great. I'm delighted. I'm happy for West Point, who have been supporting us."

The Pennsylvania-bred Dontlookbackatall emerged from post 4 in rein to Irad Ortiz, Jr., who took a tight hold in second as the sharp-starting Lady Milagro bounded to the front to mark an opening quarter-mile in 22.89 seconds over the firm footing with Gal in a Rush stalking in fourth-of-5.

The Manny Franco-piloted Honey Pants was given her cue from third entering the turn and advanced along the outside of Dontlookbackatall as Ortiz, Jr. shook his reins in the latter portion of the turn towards a toiling Lady Milagro, who marked the half-mile in 45.73. Honey Pants spun her wheels in the three-path while Gal in a Rush got going under Flavien Prat in between the former and the trailing Risk Free as the quintet straightened for home.

Dontlookbackatall inched clear of a resolute Lady Milagro inside the final eighth of a mile as Gal in a Rush made one final push for the front between Lady Milagro to her inside and Honey Pants to her outside, but Ortiz, Jr. only needed to show a right-handed crop for Dontlookbackatall to keep to task and fend off her stablemate by a neck in a final time of 1:08.52.

Honey Pants finished a half-length back of Gal in a Rush to land show honors by a half-length over Lady Milagro. Risk Free, who trailed throughout, completed the order of finish. Main track-only entrants Hot Fudge and Everyoneloveslinda were scratched.

Ortiz, Jr., who won three graded stakes on yesterday’s Kentucky Derby card at Churchill Downs, said he had a beautiful trip.

“The horse inside of me [Lady Milagro] broke fast, so I just sat off of that horse to have a target,” said Ortiz, Jr. “That is the way Mr. Clement works a lot of his horses, I know his style. I used her like a target. I just waited for the time to go and when we turned for home, I asked her, and she had a good turn of foot all the way to the wire.”

Tom Bellhouse, Executive Vice President of West Point Thoroughbreds, said he was pleased with the effort from both Dontlookbackatall and the graded stakes-placed Gal in a Rush, the latter of which is co-owned by Titletown Racing Stables and Chris Larsen.

"Both of these fillies have been in our program for a few years. We're excited to see Dontlookbackatall take that next step in stakes company,” said Bellhouse. “Gal in a Rush had her first start of the year and did exactly what we were hoping - she came running late against some really nice fillies. A one-two finish is what we were dreaming of and we were able to get it done.”

Clement said both horses are likely to be pointed to the Grade 2, $200,000 Intercontinental presented by MTV Solutions, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older fillies and mares, on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.

"Without a doubt we will have to have a look at it,” Clement said.

Bred in the Keystone State by A1A Racing, Dontlookbackatall was a $150,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Her 11-4-5-0 record includes a runner-up effort in the six-furlong Glen Cove in October here, and a dominant wire-to-wire score in a local allowance in September. She banked $82,500 for her License Fee victory while returning $4.70 for a $2 win ticket as the 6-5 mutuel favorite.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Belmont at the Big A with an eight-race card. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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