Chelsea Durand Photo

Evidently strikes on time in G3 Long Island

by Najja Thompson

With the addition of blinkers for the first time, 5-year-old mare Evidently moved confidently along the rail in the final strides to pick up her first graded stakes victory for owner and trainer Roy Lerman in the Grade 3, $200,000 Long Island Handicap on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Breaking from post 5 at odds of 13-1 with Tony Gallardo aboard, Evidently settled second to last in the field of nine as Earring quickly ushered toward the lead, setting tepid fractions of 25.49 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 52.75 for the half.

Earring remained on the lead at the quarter-pole with a mile going in 1:46.62, Evidently began her journey moving from the rear to passing rivals at the five-sixteenths pole and in full drive in the upper stretch. Angling to the rail, Evidently engaged Earring in the late stretch, digging in and went on to earn the victory completing the 1 ½-mile distance in a final time of 2:34.50.

"I knew I had a lot of horse," said Gallardo. "The blinkers made the difference. I took a shot and she gave me a really good kick. The pace was a little slow, but she liked that. She felt comfortable. When I asked, she gave me everything."

Returning $29.20 for a $2 win wager, the daughter of Smart Strike earned her first victory from five starts this year and first since July of last year when she won an optional claming race at Belmont. The stakes win increased her career earnings to $259,073.

"She really got a perfect trip," said Lerman. "Coming in, I knew she loved the distance, and she was able to save ground and make her way along the rail today. The addition of blinkers probably made a difference. Tony had never ridden her before but she was a touch more aggressive and thankfully it worked out today."

Following Earring in second was Desiree Clary in third followed by Swear by It, Itsonlyactingdad, Promotional, Palinodie, Achnaha and Modernstone completed the order of finish.