After a 1-2 finish in the Monmouth Cup (G3) on the Haskell Day card at Monmouth Park Saturday, trainer Chad Brown returned to win the next race, the $210,000 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes (G3), in similar fashion with Lemista leading in stablemate Fluffy Socks.
Jockey Flavien Prat rode Highly Motivated to a track record-setting win in the Monmouth Cup and then guided Lemista to a half-length triumph over Fluffy Socks in the Matchmaker.
Lemista moved up to track pacesetter Flighty Lady from second, a half length back through six furlongs in 1:12.21 with Fluffy Socks stalking from fourth, and bid two wide entering the far turn. Dispatching the front-runner, Lemista led on the home turn, then repelled a game bid from Fluffy Socks, who engaged her in early stretch, to prevail.
Time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:47.07 on firm turf.
Fluffy Socks, ridden by Manny Franco, finished a neck to the good of Vigilantes Way, who was third. Lady Rockstar, the 9-5 favorite, raced in last of seven and had no closing kick to finish fifth.
Lemista halted a six-race winless stretch, entering the Matchmaker off a third in Eatontown Stakes (G3) June 18 at Monmouth.
“Lemista doesn't have a great turn of foot and I've been frustrated when she's been out of position,” Brown said. “She ran decent last time when she got dragged to the back of the pack. She just needs to break into position, and today I thought for the first time that she had really good forward position. She has a good kick; she's just not going to circle the field. She's not that kind of horse, so I'm very pleased with the trip that Flavien (Prat) worked out for her. The other filly (Fluffy Socks) was a little bit wide but she was game as usual. She's very consistent. She had a more challenging trip having to lose some ground on that final turn and that was the difference.
“I was thinking about what might be next for both of them. The Beverly D might come back a little quick off a hot day and it's a hard stretch run there. If not there, races like the Ballston Spa at Saratoga, maybe. That will give them a little more time between starts. We'll see.”
Lemista, who returned $11.20, won for the first time in three starts this year and has a 5-1-2 record overall from 13 career outings with earnings of $362,350.
Owned by Peter Brant, Irish-bred Lemista is a 5-year-old daughter of Raven's Pass out of the Arcano mare Shortmile Lady.
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