Oct 28, 2017
Robert Mauhar Photo
Off Limits finds her groove for G3 Athenia victory
by NYRA Press Office
Off Limits lived up to her 4-5 favoritism, picking up her second straight graded stakes in the Grade 3, $200,000 Athenia for fillies and mares on the turf at Belmont Park, the first of four stakes on the final Saturday of the Belmont Fall Championship Meet.
Off Limits, ridden by Joel Rosario, broke from post 7 and settled in midpack as Juno took early control of the 10-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 24.52 seconds and a half in 48.79. The 5-year-old Irish-bred mare by Mastercraftsman picked off rivals through the far turn and hit the front near the eighth pole. She held on by a neck over My Impression to stop the clock for 1 1/16 miles on the firm Widener turf course in 1:41.73.
"The pace was kind of slow so it was just about timing the right move to go to the front," said Rosario. "You can see when she goes to the lead she likes to wait for horses. When you ride a horse for the second time, you learn a little bit more and it was a different race from the last time, but I was confident she was the best horse in here today. She was very relaxed and handled the distance with no problem."
The win was the third in a row for Off Limits, following an optional claiming win in August at Saratoga Race Course and a 4 ¾-length victory in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel on September 23 at Belmont. Purchased by Martin S. Schwartz as a 3-year-old and transferred to the barn of Chad Brown, Off Limits was winless in her 4-year-old campaign and was turned out in September 2016. She returned with a 1 ½-length allowance win in June. She boasts an overall career record of 6-2-1 from 16 starts with lifetime earnings of $454,680.
Off Limits returned $3.90 for a $2 win wager.
"We gave her time off and Mr. Schwartz purchased this filly and gave it to me and we got in a groove with her," said Brown. "She never quite looked right in her coat. She trained a little better than she was running, and it was frustrating. We got together and decided to give her an extended vacation and let her acclimate over here. He is always very patient with his horses and does the right thing with them, and she's the perfect example of that."
Elysea's World secured third by a nose over Penjade, both also trained by Brown. Time and Motion was fifth, followed by Puca, Westit, Decked Out, Queen Caroline, and Juno to complete the order of finish.
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