by Mike Curry

Backseat Rhythm confirmed her affinity for yielding turf on Saturday at Belmont Park as she rallied from well off the pace to prevail by a half-length in the $247,500 Garden City Stakes (G1).

The bay El Corredor filly entered off a 3 1/4-length score on yielding turf in the Lake Placid Stakes (G2) on August 15 at Saratoga Race Course.

“She loved the yielding course,” winning jockey Javier Castellano said. “I think this is the best going for her.”

Raw Silk set an uncontested pace through a leisurely half-mile in :49.98 and six furlongs in 1:14.72 in the 1 1/8-mile race for three-year-old fillies.

American Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1) winner Pure Clan, sent off as the even-money favorite as part of a coupled entry with Grade 1 winner Ariege, was boxed in at the quarter pole. My Princess Jess rallied from the inside to challenge Raw Silk entering the stretch, while Backseat Rhythm swept into contention with a five-wide bid.

Backseat Rhythm accelerated smoothly and surged to the lead in the final furlong under Castellano. Pure Clan split foes in the stretch and closed willingly along with stablemate Ariege, but Backseat Rhythm held off the challengers to prevail in 1:51.82 on yielding turf.

“It was great coming from that far back with no pace,” said trainer Pat Reynolds, who trains Backseat Rhythm for owner Paul Pompa Jr. “She’s a no-excuse filly. She either gets there or she doesn’t and she always gives you her best. She handles any kind of turf.”

The winner brushed in the stretch with Pure Clan, whose jockey, Julien Leparoux, lodged a claim of foul for interference. Stewards upheld the victory for Backseat Rhythm, who improved to four wins in 12 starts and earned her first Grade 1 win.

“You have to be patient with her. If you rush her too much, she starts switching leads back and forth,” Castellano said. “When she went by the other horse, she switched leads. I don’t blame Julien [Leparoux for claiming foul]. He has to protect himself and his client.”

Pure Clan edged Ariege by a neck for second.

“She took a long time to get going, and I think she got a little intimidated,” Leparoux said of Pure Clan.

My Princess Jess finished evenly to take fourth, and Raw Silk faded to fifth.

Out of Grade 3-placed winner Kiss a Miss, by Kissin Kris, Backseat Rhythm increased her earnings to $607,185.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor