Scalable proves best in $135K Ladies
Scalable overtook stubborn pacesetter Bernietakescharge late in the lane to capture Friday’s $135,000 Ladies, a nine-furlong route for older fillies and mares, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The victory provided owner Repole Stable, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Kendrick Carmouche with their second stakes win together on the day after taking the Listed $150,000 Toboggan with Be You. It was also the third win on the card, through six races, for both Pletcher and Carmouche.
Carmouche said he looked to secure a close stalking position as he tried to turn the tables on 2-5 mutuel favorite Weigh the Risks, who had bested Scalable in back-to-back Listed stakes here around one turn.
“I wanted to be aggressive with her and keep her as close as I can to the favorite,” Carmouche said of his winning trip in the Ladies, which was originally scheduled for January 17, and was rescheduled three times due to recent frigid weather. “I tried to get the inside; that's the best part of the track. Stay inside, stay inside, tip out. When I tipped out, she was ready to rock and roll. I know we canceled this race the last couple weeks, but I thought today was a perfect day to run where I could get the upper hand on the favorite. Thank you to Todd Pletcher and Repole."
The New York-bred multiple stakes-winner Bernietakescharge broke alertly from post 2 under Ruben Silvera and took command through an opening quarter-mile in 24.67 seconds over the fast main track with Weigh the Risks pressing the pace under Manny Franco from second position and Scalable jostling for position in fifth.
Bernietakescharge continued to dictate terms down the backstretch as Weigh the Risks kept close watch in front of a stalking trio of Scalable, Low Country Magic and Curlin’s Girl.
Carmouche asked Scalable for more into the final turn and the talented mare responded with a strong turn-of-foot, ranging outside Weigh the Risks to bear down on the determined pacesetter, who held just a half-length advantage at the stretch call after three-quarters in 1:12.24.
Bernietakescharge stayed on gamely down the lane but Scalable surged to the front approaching the sixteenth marker and powered away to a 2 1/4-length score in a final time of 1:51.32. Bernietakescharge held place by 2 1/4-lengths over Low Country Magic with Weigh the Risks, Purloin and Curlin’s Girl rounding out the order of finish.
Scalable had chased home Weigh the Risks in each of her last two outings, finishing a 1 3/4-length third in the seven-furlong Listed Pumpkin Pie in November and a 9 3/4-length second last out in the Listed Go for Wand traveling a one-turn mile on December 13.
Stu Hampson, Pletcher’s New York-based assistant, said the added distance benefited Scalable.
“We were hoping with the stretch-out that she would sit a little closer and with the way that worked out, Kendrick gave her a textbook ride,” Hampson said. “A great ride by Kendrick and a brilliant performance by the filly. All the credit to her. We’re tremendously proud of her."
The victory marked the third stakes score for the 5-year-old Speightstown gray following a narrow win over well-regarded Gun Song in the 2024 Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks under Paco Lopez and last year’s Interborough here with Carmouche up.
“Kendrick knows what to do and he gave her a brilliant ride last year, [in the Interborough] too,” Hampson said. “With the stretch-out [today] she was probably going to naturally be a little closer and it was like she was always traveling [well]. Hats off to the entire team.”
Ruben Silvera said the Domenick Schettino-trained Bernietakescharge, who entered from a win in the Bay Ridge versus fellow state-breds, was game throughout.
“She ran big, because she is New York-bred and this race was open,” Silvera said. “The trainer told me she missed a work, so probably she needs a race. Next time, she is going to be ready."
Manny Franco said he had no excuses for the Chad Brown-trained Weigh the Risks.
“I had her in a good, comfortable rhythm. She was pulling a little bit on me, but I don’t think she had much excuse,” Franco said.
Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Scalable was a $200,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is out of the Tapit mare Passion Flower, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-victor Stopchargingmaria – an earner of over $3 million for Pletcher that was campaigned at ages two and three by Mike Repole. Scalable banked $74,250 in victory while improving her record to 16-5-2-2. She returned $12.50 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing is canceled on Saturday and Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack due to arctic temperatures and extremely low wind chill values forecast to impact the New York metropolitan area throughout the weekend. Aqueduct Racetrack will remain open for simulcast operations on Saturday and Sunday.
Live racing resumes Wednesday at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.
America's Day at the Races presents live coverage and analysis of every day of the Aqueduct Racetrack winter meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.
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