by Myra Lewyn

Grade 1 winner Rutherienne returned from a layoff of more than three months on Saturday and prevailed by neck in a three-horse finish in the $100,000 Frances A. Genter Stakes (G3), giving trainer Christophe Clement wins in both graded stakes on Calder Race Course’s Grand Slam III card.

One race earlier, Clement-trained Bayou’s Lassie captured the $100,000 Stage Door Betty Handicap (G3) by a neck in equally thrilling fashion.

Rutherienne’s triumph marked a return to winning form since her last-place finish in the Garden City Stakes (G1) on September 9 at Belmont Park, which snapped a three-race victory skein that included a win in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) on August 18. 

The Pulpit filly relaxed in sixth as Beautiful Venue, and then Pretoria Light, led the 11-horse field through a half-mile in :45.87.

Rutherienne advanced to second in early stretch under Rene Douglas, a half-length behind Pretoria Light, and launched a willing bid on the outside. Pretoria Light would not yield and battled with Rutherienne as Sweet Ransom closed with a rush from fifth. Rutherienne dug in and surged in the final strides for the win while Sweet Ransom and Pretoria Light finished in a dead heat for second, 1 ½ lengths in front of Beautiful Venue.

Sent off as the 1.30-to-1 favorite, Rutherienne finished in 1:28.16 for the 7 ½ furlongs on firm turf.

“That horse [Pretoria Light] was tough to catch the way she went out on the lead,” Douglas said. “We had good position down the backside, and when I stepped on the gas she went right between horses, then we had to work hard to catch the leader.”

Rutherienne, who is out of the stakes-winning Rahy mare Ruthian, earned her sixth win and fifth stakes in eight starts this season, including scores in the Boiling Springs (G3), Lake George (G3), and Sands Point (G3) Stakes. The $58,280 winner’s share of the Genter purse took her lifetime earnings to $620,975 for owner-breeder Virginia Kraft Payson. Overall, she has won eight of ten career starts.

For the Equibase chart, click here.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor