Susie Raisher Photo

Isabelle posts impressive 12-length victory in Heavenly Prize

by Brian Bohl

William C. Schettine's Isabelle surged to the front and went gate-to-wire for a 12-length win in the fourth running of the $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

Isabelle won for the second time in three starts, breaking well from post 4 and setting early fractions of 24.29 seconds for a quarter-mile and a half in 49.04. 

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 6-year-old New York-bred completed 1 1/16 miles on the inner dirt track in 1:46.04. It marked her third straight impressive showing at the distance after winning the Bay Ridge on December 11 before finishing as the runner-up in the Biogio's Rose on February 5 at the Big A.

"My filly broke really well. I just wanted to get away from the rail where I could get her in hand and pretty much the race went from there," said jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who also had the call on the previous two starts in which Isabelle recorded her two highest Beyer Speed Figures. "I just had to ride her home. She did everything right. Hats off to Mr. Mott and his team. I'm just a pilot. She was really amazing to beat open bred horses and she's a New York-bred. That's really good."

Off at 7-5, Isabelle paid $4.80 on a $2 win bet and improved to 4-1-0 in seven starts on the inner track, increasing her career earnings to $502,102. 

"Kendrick was pretty confident he could make the lead and make the most of it, and he did," said Leanna Willaford, assistant to Mott. "She was doing really well coming into the race. I really don't know where we'll go from here. I'm just happy we've gotten to keep her this long during breeding season."

Genre, the even-money favorite for trainer Todd Pletcher, rallied from fourth in the stretch to overtake Chorus Line and Annie Rocks in a runner-up effort.  

Chorus Line, a 20-1 longshot for trainer Edward DeLauro, finished third. Oasis At Midnight, Annie Rocks and Familyofroses completed the order of finish. Highway Star was scratched.