NEWS
Bright Abundance stays perfect at Belmont in Noble Damsel
Posted: Saturday, September 24, 2005
Bright Abundance, a four-year-old Quiet American filly, and jockey Richard Migliore found a seam late and charged through to score a half-length victory on Saturday in the $150,000 Noble Damsel Handicap (G3) at Belmont Park.
Fortunate Damsel set the early pace in the one-mile turf event for fillies and mares three years old and older, followed by Path of Thunder and Lentil. Turning for home both Fortunate Damsel and Lentil tired as six of the 12 entrants bunched up for the stretch drive.
Bright Abundance and Migliore moved out from their inside position to take the lead late, holding off fast-closing 7-to-5 favorite My Lordship. Bright Abundance crossed the wire in 1:33.93 over the firm turf to record her first career graded stakes win.
Asti (Ire) finished third, one length behind My Lordship.
"As bad as things went the last time I rode her in Saratoga [a seventh-place finish on August 11], was as well as everything went today," Migliore said. "She broke clean and got her spot. I was on a lot of horse the whole way, and that makes a jockey's life easy."
Bred in Kentucky by Gainsborough Farm, Bright Abundance began her career in France where she enjoyed only moderate success at two and three for owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. Sent to the United States and trainer Christophe Clement for this year's campaign she currently races for the partnership of Jon and Sarah Kelly, Don and Joan Cimpl, and Jim and Joan Wiltz.
Bright Abundance has had notable success at Belmont Park where she and Migliore are now three-for-three, winning an allowance event on May 4 and the Plenty of Grace Stakes on July 4.
"She's been unlucky all year long," Clement said. "She's a good filly. She really likes the one-turn mile at Belmont. Richie gave her a great stalking ride."
Clement said that Bright Abundance might be pointed toward the 1 1/16-mile Athenia Handicap (G3) at Belmont on October 15.
See chart, courtesy of Equibase at
http://www.equibase.com
