Joe Labozzetta / NYRA Photo

She’s My Type earns black type with License Fee score in seasonal bow

by Brian Bohl

Ghislaine Head’s She’s My Type commenced her 4-year-old year by displaying the stakes-winning form she showed as a sophomore, taking command in the stretch and pulling away from Robin Sparkles by 1 3/4 lengths to win Friday’s $100,000 License Fee for older fillies and mares going six furlongs on the Belmont Park inner turf.

The eighth running of the License Fee, rescheduled from April 25 because of inclement weather, saw Jakarta lead the nine-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.24 seconds on the firm course, with Caravel in pursuit.

Caravel, under rider Nik Juarez, edged the initial pacesetter to record the half-mile in 45.13, with She’s My Type gaining ground under jockey Hector Diaz, Jr.

Out of the turn, She’s My Type was in third position with plenty of daylight in front, with Caraval and Jakarta positioned closer to the rail. The French-bred Dunkerque filly was game under Diaz, Jr.’s right-handed encouragement, overtaking Caravel in the final furlong and repelling Robin Sparkles’ late rally to complete the sprint in a final time of 1:08.34.

She’s My Type, who won the Ginger Brew in January 2020 at Gulfstream Park and the Coronation Cup in July at Saratoga Race Course, netted a third stakes win at a third track for trainer Christophe Clement.

Making her first start since running seventh in the Music City in September at Kentucky Downs, She’s My Type impressed her conditioner in her first race in nearly eight months, improving to 4-1-1 in eight career starts since making a triumphant debut in December 2019 at Gulfstream.

Clement also said the victory could set up a more ambitious schedule later this meet, with the seven-furlong Grade 3, $200,000 Intercontinental on June 3 or the one-mile Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Just a Game on Belmont Stakes Day June 5 under consideration.

“She settled well in mid-pack and did everything nicely and looked very comfortable,” Clement said. “We’ll bring her back and start looking for some bigger and better things. There is the seven-eighths Intercontinental in June and the Just a Game as well. If she comes out of this race in good shape and trains well, we can go that route.”

Off at 7-2 She’s My Type returned $9.50 on a $2 win wager and improved her career earnings to $225,080.

“Everything worked out perfect,” said Diaz, Jr., who won his first career stakes at Belmont. “The instruction was to do whatever felt comfortable but to save ground. We got a good position and when I asked her to run, she responded.

“We knew there was speed in the race and the pace would set up perfect, but I didn’t want to be too far back,” he added. “In sprint races, the horses will keep running, especially on this turf course.”

Robin Sparkles, a Bruce Brown trainee making her stakes debut, bested Caravel by three-quarters of a length under Joe Bravo for runner-up status. The New York-bred Robin Sparkles is 4-2-0 in seven career starts.

“I expected to be in front, but those guys were really using their horses pretty aggressively,” Bravo said. “My horse was relaxed and settled off the pace and she didn’t give up. She fought for second. I was proud of her.”

Following Caravel in the order of finish was Introduced, Flower Point, I’llhandalthecash, Lady Lawyer, Jakarta and the favorite Sweet Melania finishing last. Malibu Mischief, entered for the main-track only, was scratched, as was Sadie Lady.

Live racing continues Saturday, Kentucky Derby Day, at Belmont with an 11-race card and a special 12:20 p.m. Eastern first post. The first graded stakes of the spring/summer meet will occur in Race 3 with the Grade 3, $200,000 Westchester for 4-year-olds and up going a one-turn mile at 1:32 p.m., with the Grade 2, $200,000 Fort Marcy for 4-year-olds and up contesting at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf slated for Race 5 at 2:37 p.m. The 10th race will see older fillies and mares compete at 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf in the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay at 5:37 p.m.

Belmont Park will re-open to a limited number of spectators beginning on Saturday. All admission must be purchased in advance at nyra.com/belmont/tickets/.