Chelsea Durand Photo

Me Governor shows the way in $135K Stewart Manor

by Keith McCalmont

Danbro Farms’ Me Governor picked up her first career stakes win with a gate-to-wire score in Saturday’s $135,000 Stewart Manor, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for juvenile fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Carlos David, the dark bay daughter of The Factor shrugged off the pace pressure of Perfect Figure and stayed on strong to the wire with enough in reserve to stave off the rallying Annascaul and make her third stakes attempt a winning one.

The victory provided jockey Jorge Ruiz with back-to-back Stewart Manor wins after scoring with Toupie last year.

"I'm happy to get the win for Carlos David. I'm thankful for the opportunity that he gave me to ride this horse,” said Ruiz, who was aboard Me Governor for the first time in the afternoon. “The filly broke from the gate very fast, then she wins, you know? Easy for me, as in not too much working."

The David-trained Blossoming Erudite broke sharpest of all from the outermost post 8 but it was Me Governor and Perfect Figure that dueled for the lead through splits of 22.19 seconds and 44.56 over the firm footing with 8-5 mutuel favorite Yougottahavehope saving ground in third after exiting the inside post.

The New York-bred Annascaul, who was a close sixth last out in the Grade 1 Natalma at Woodbine, was traveling well behind rivals under Carmouche, who angled her off the rail and took up chase through the turn. Me Governor put away Perfect Figure in upper stretch as Yougottahavehope chased along the rail with the charging Annascaul the main danger. But there was no denying Me Governor the three-quarter length victory, impressively covering the six furlongs in a final time of 1:08.23.

It was 2 3/4-lengths back to Yougottahavehope in third with Perfect Figure, Strong Like Sara, Annie Goodbody, Blossoming Erudite and Duboff rounding out the order of finish. Laurice was scratched.

Ruiz said he felt confident in his filly throughout.

"The plan was to stay close to the speed. My filly broke very well, and I used the opportunity,” Ruiz said. “She was controlling for the race - for the win. It was my first time on the filly, and it was easy for me. In the beginning, the breaking sharp, the going easy on the front, I was OK."

Carmouche, who was piloting the Christophe Clement-trained Annascaul for the first time in the afternoon, said his filly ran her race.

“The horse broke good. I tucked her in. I saved the ground. I thought she was just second best today,” Carmouche said. “I thought they would've had a little more speed in the race, but it didn't work out that way.”

Me Governor made her first three starts at Monmouth Park, graduating at second asking on July 4 over the main track and returning 24 days later to finish third in the Colleen in her turf debut. The $42,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale purchase shipped to Saratoga Race Course and finished fourth in the off-the-turf Bolton Landing on August 18 before a pressing 5 3/4-length score last out in an optional-claiming sprint over good Gulfstream Park turf on September 29.

Me Governor, bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Mike Buckley and William Van Meter, banked $74,250 in victory while improving her record to 6-3-1-1. She returned $9.10 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a nine-race card for Closing Day of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet featuring three separate $150,000 stakes contested on the main track, highlighted by the nine-furlong Listed Turnback the Alarm in Race 2; the Listed Pumpkin Pie in Race 6; and the Discovery in Race 8. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.