Adam Coglianese / NYRA Photo

Brown-trained exacta gives conditioner his fifth straight Noble Damsel (G3) victory

by Brian Bohl

Juddmonte Farms’ Viadera ran down pacesetter and stablemate Blowout in deep stretch, surging up the rail to take command in the final sixteenth and post a victory by a neck to give trainer Chad Brown the exacta in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Noble Damsel for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at Belmont Park.

The English-bred Viadera, who won her first North American race at second asking last out in the De La Rose on July 17 at Saratoga Race Course, won her first graded stakes appearance in the United States while giving Brown his fifth consecutive victory in the Noble Damsel with five different horses.

Another Brown-trained English bred, the 2-1 favorite Blowout, led the nine-horse field through the early going, breaking sharp from the gate and opening an advantage on Sweet Bye and Bye in going through a brisk quarter-mile in 22.17 seconds and the half in 44.85 on the firm Widener turf, with Viadera saving ground in seventh position.

Out of the turn, Blowout continued to hold a slim lead over a game Sweet Bye and Bye, with Joel Rosario urging Viadera up to an advantageous position before angling to the inside, where she picked off rivals before finding a seam near the rail. 

Approaching the wire, an all-out Viadera got the lead with the fellow Brown trainee to her immediate outside, completing the course in a final time of 1:32.06.

"I was in a good spot and there was a lot of speed,” said Rosario, who teamed with Brown for his third Noble Damsel win in four years. “For a second, I thought they were going to get away from me, but I was comfortable where I was, and I just tried to ride her from there. When it was time to go, she kicked good.

"It looked like I might have to go between horses [in the stretch] but they came off the rail and I took a chance to go to the rail and hope not to get blocked inside,” he continued. “She kept coming and coming. She ran super."

Off at 5-1, Viadera returned $13 on a $2 win wager. She improved her career earnings to $211,441. Her effort was another in a list of Brown triumphs in the turf route, joining a list that includes Significant Form [2019], 2019 Eclipse Award Turf Female-champion Uni [2018], Off Limits [2017] and Mrs McDougal [2016].  

“The winner, Viadera, really got a great trip from Joel [Rosario] and she's a fine filly in her own right. She's really put it together her last two starts with two nice wins,” Brown said.

Blowout, owned by Peter Brant and ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, was the runner-up for a third consecutive race, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Sweet Bye and Bye.

“Blowout probably ran the best race,” Brown said. “The fractions were grueling, and it was hard to stomach watching it unfold but she held on gamely and nearly won. I'm so proud of her effort and surprised that any horse could hold on and battle to the wire and almost win.

"They ran super. Viadera got a great setup saving all the ground and I'm really proud of her,” he added. “Blowout ran probably the best race. For her to set those fractions and still battle on, I'm so proud of her. Both horses really ran terrific.”

Joseph M. Imbresi’s Sweet Bye and Bye, conditioned by Tony Dutrow, ran third to earn graded stakes blacktype for the second time in three career efforts.

Noor Sahara, the third Brown trainee, finished fourth, with Chaleur, Atomic Blonde, Feel Glorious, Getmotherarose and Lemon Zip completing the order of finish. Another Broad, entered for the main track only, was scratched.

Live racing resumes Sunday with another 10-race card. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.