Bourdeaux Nourrir win poignant for owner Leon

Blocked late and running out of racetrack, Say So found the winning path in the “Lightning Lane” to capture a division of a $150,400 Keystone Classic on Wednesday at The Meadows. The event for Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-old filly pacers was contested over six divisions, with Six Pistol, Bordeaux Nourrir, Pan Voyage, Wendy’s Dragon and All Heart Gal taking the other splits.

 

Dave Palone fashioned a driving triple (Six Pistol, Bordeaux Nourrir, All Heart Gal) in the stake while driver Brett Miller and trainer Tony Alagna enjoyed doubles with Pan Voyage and Wendy’s Dragon.

 

Eric Ledford guided Say So to the outside for a second-over trip but dropped back to the pylons for the drive. With early leader Blue Moon Artist tiring in front of her, Say So found the Lightning Lane just in time to erase a 1 1/2-length deficit. She scored in 1:54.2, a neck better than the first-over NF Salsa, while Blue Moon Artist saved show.

 

“This is a nice filly; she’s been good all along,” said Alan Riegle, who trains the Brittany Farms homebred daughter of Four Starzzz Shark-Yankee Scandal. “Her strength is her attitude. She has a never-say-die attitude, and you can’t teach them that. If they don’t have it, you can’t do anything about it.”

 

Riegle said Say So will be pointed to Grand Circuit stakes at The Red Mile.

 

Bourdeaux Nourrir used a quarter-pole move to reach the front as she prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Sammy’s Magic Girl in 1:54.4, with Sand Gesture third.

 

"She’s a nice filly, but she has to learn to relax a bit,” said Kevin McDermott, who trains the daughter of Western Hanover-Latte Lady for Fran Azur and George Leon Stables. "If she doesn’t relax, it will hurt her when she gets in with the big girls."

 

It was the fourth consecutive win for Bordeaux Nourrir and an especially poignant one as co-owner George Leon dedicated the race to the memory of his wife Annette, who died Wednesday morning.

 

Palone sent Six Pistol on a decisive quarter-pole move, and the daughter of I Am A Fool-DHB Six responded by prevailing in 1:54.2, three-quarters of a length better than It’s De Lovely, with Farouche Hanover third.

 

“I wanted to get her settled early because she’s had breaking problems behind the gate,” Palone said. “She steered better than last week. She’s got a world of ability. I think it’s just a matter of experience. She needs to figure it out yet.”

 

Bulletproof Enterprises owns Six Pistol. (The Meadows)