The Demoiselle (Grade 2)- $300.000 Purse
AQU- For Fillies Two Years Old
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
November 28, 2015

It could be the scene from a Disney movie as she did have to beat a fast witch and another who’s success has been notarized, but really, it’s always an underdog that comes up victorious in one of those.  Sure, Disney Music wasn’t the biggest name in the race, but she was one of the top choices on the board, and was among our picks as well.  Those victory stories aren’t the ones that Disney makes moves after, but we can still enjoy the music. Perhaps the story could be written about Sarah Stables and V Espinoza, who in the prior race at AQU, the Remsen, came up just short and finished second while trying to wire the field.  This time, the two would change up their strategy and walk off together to Demoiselle glory.  That calls for some good music.   With the win, the second of Disney Music’s career, the filly earns some valuable KYO points, and now knows she can defeat the best in her division, not just be in the mix with them until the end.  It is the second time that V Espinoza has won the Demoiselle, doing so also in 2008.  Trainer Sarah Stables wins the stake for the first time.   Here’s how it went down!

1st- 2- Disney Music (4/1)- Our eventual race winner from Sarah Stables got off to a pretty good start, being amongst the lead group initially before jockey V Espinoza opted for a position just off the lead, a couple lengths back.   For the majority of the backstretch run, she was running a rather uneventful race in the middle of the pack.  Then, as the field approached the final turn, Espinoza made an aggressive move to position her down a lane, if not two lanes.  It’s hard to tell if this move was precipitated by a move from Kiss Thiss.   Regardless, after this point, Disney Music turned it into high gear and set her sights on the lead as she moved to the outside of Motor Home.  In the turn, Disney Music was so good, a song should be created about it.  She was a length and a half behind Notarized Kate at the start of the turn and even with her by the exit.  This is where the race was won, because she made up this ground while Notarized Kate was advancing, and doing that along the rail to boot.  In the stretch, Disney Music was a freight train that was just not going to be stopped, and it didn’t matter how fast the witch to her outside was, or what type of valiant effort Notarized Kate was showing on the inside.  Today, was going to be her day.  She would win by about a length, with the ending race time being 1:48.34.   That time will the new record for the Demoiselle!  Congratulations to all of the connections!  Disney Music is a two year old filly by Catch A Rising Star, who is exactly that as a sire. He is out of Candace, who has some excellent autogen bloodlines. (3/4 of them, as a matter of fact). Disney Music was bred in Ontario by Sarah Stables, and has been a part of this barn for her entire career.

2nd- 6- Notarized Kate (7/2)- Our BC Juvenile Fillies runner up from Pristine Stables was the quickest of them all out of the gate and down the frontstretch for the first time, but she would soon be content to allow Aldonza to set the early fractions as she ran along the rail.  During the backstretch run, Notarized Kate was third most of the way, and about a length and a half from the lead.  During the turn, we started to have some battling for position behind her, so J R Leparoux was sure to keep her on the rail and prepare to pass Aldonza on the inside.  While she handled the turn fine, this is also where Disney Music beat her, gaining ground and drawing even with her at the top of the stretch even while she was in the third lane over.  Notarized Kate ran very well to the wire, but Disney Music was just ready quicker for the stretch run and built up more speed for it.

3rd- 3- Fast Witch (25/1)- The filly in which we didn’t know much about coming into this race put forth a good run for her trainer, Brave.  She began well, content to stalk the stalkers just a couple lengths off the lead.   She would maintain this position during the backstretch trip, but was forced to go four wide as they moved their way into the turn.  While in the turn, she ran gamely, even with Disney Music running to her inside.  Unfortunately, she was forced to remain four wide even into the stretch, and that cost her a little bit.   Put forth a valiant effort while running in this lane and impressively finishes third, and proves herself in the process.

4th- 8- Aldonza (5/2)- Jerry Garcia Racing looked to follow up his Remsen win with a strong run by Aldonza, and initially she played the part, going right to the lead around the opening turn and into the backstretch.   She would maintain the advantage over the course of the backstretch while running in the third lane, setting the half mile fraction in :47.73.  Aldonza would be able to move closer to the rail for the final turn run, and at that time set our 3/4 fraction in 1:11.43.  Hung in there well until about 7/10 of a furlong to go.  At that point, she slammed on the brakes, it seemed.

5th- 9- Laffin Diplomat (14/1)- It was not the greatest of starts for Laffin Diplomat, as the D J C Racing Stables trained filly went towards the back and would keep Marching Orphan company early.  She remained back in this position for the duration of the backstretch, and was about two lengths off from the pack as they moved into the turn.  On exit of the turn, she began to show a desire to advance and would get a little closer, but no one was letting up in front of her.

6th- 7- Motor Home (7/1)- The Mb Stables entry got off to a good start, challenging the pacesetting Aldonza in the beginning moments.  Continued to stalk the leader for much of the backstretch, but when Disney Music and Fast Witch made their moves to her outside, Motor Home could not fend them off.  She seemed to particularly struggle in the final furlong.

7th- 5- Marching Orphan (6/1)- Did not get off to a good start for Sarah Stables, ahead of only Seether early.  This is where she would remain for the entire backstretch run.  In the final turn, she was also unable to make any headway.  It did look like she had some in the tank for the stretch run, but had spotted the field way too much.

8th- 4- Seether (101/1)- The longest shot on the board from Waldo did not look good early, going immediately to the back and being about three lengths from the next closest competitor.  Continued to trail from a deep distance throughout the backstretch.  On exit of the turn, she seemed to be at her best, but no one in front of her was going to be conceding ground, and Seether could only pass one.

9th- 1- Kiss Thiss (9/1)- The Downwind Stables entry got off to an average start, riding the rail in the middle of the pack.  Seemed to come down suddenly on Disney Music in the backstretch, but that one had places to go and would only move forward.  For Kiss Thiss, it became a gradual progression to the back as the race wore on.

Track: Fast
Time: :47³  1:11²  1:35⁴  1:48¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 6 Paid 18.50
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 6 – 3 Paid 786.20

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES