Oct 28, 2017
Susie Raisher Photo
Eskenformoney caps racing career with thrilling finish to win G3 Turnback the Alarm
by Brian Bohl
StarLadies Racing and Lisa Troutt's Eskenformoney made her last career start a memorable one, running down Verve's Tale in deep stretch before taking the lead in the final jumps to win the 23rd running of the $200,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap on Saturday at Belmont Park.
Eskenformoney, the 121-pound highweight, stayed off the fractions set by 3-5 favorite Miss Sky Warrior, who went the opening quarter-mile in 23.14 seconds with the half in 45.86 on a fast main track. Out of the turn, Verve's Tale took the lead, with Miss Sky Warrior fading in her first start since the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.
But Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez set Eskenformoney down under a drive, surging from the outside to overtake her rival right before the wire, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.12 to win by a head.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Eskenformoney made her 28th and final start before the Fasig-Tipton November sale on November 6. The 5-year-old daughter of Eskendereya finished her career with five wins, including the head-bobbing finish on Big Sandy.
"I thought with 60 or 70 yards left she wasn't going to get there, but she really surged the last part," Pletcher said. I thought the race was unfolding really well and she was getting a good trip and she was resolute until the end. We had a pretty favorable post position. It left us with a lot of options.
"Sometimes she doesn't break real alertly but it kind of helped us when they went pretty quickly up front and Johnny gave a great ride," he added. "She's been a great filly for us, very consistent. [She's] a real sweetheart to train."
Off at 7-2, Eskenformoney paid $9.20 on a $2 win bet. The Kentucky bred increased her career earnings to $757,616.
"They were rolling along in the first part, but once I got into the position I wanted, I actually wanted to be right behind [Verve's Tale] and I was kind of hiding behind her the whole time," Velazquez said. "But on the turn I was riding a long way. I haven't ridden this horse since the second time she ran, I was thinking, 'man, I am working her really hard and she is not going anywhere,' so I kept after her and made sure she stayed a little close and didn't have to do too much.
"When the quarter pole came, she swept down the lane and I thought she had more to get to the other horse, but then she kind of backed up from where I wanted to be. And then the last sixteenth of a mile she decided to run."
Verve's Tale, who was vying for her first graded stakes win since the 2016 Grade 3 Comely, was the runner-up, outlasting Birdatthewire by 4 ½ lengths.
Miss Sky Warrior, who was coming off a nearly six-month break since running eighth in the Kentucky Oaks for trainer Kelly Breen, finished fourth. Indian Point and A Place to Shine completed the order of finish.
Tejana was scratched.
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