Off-going no problem for Ruby Notion in Caress Stakes Monday
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Ruby Notion ran credibly in last year’s edition of the $200,000 Caress Stakes, fading late to finish fourth at 8-1. Given a chance to do better this year, the 5-year- old mare Kentucky-based showed what she could do when the stars were aligned, rallying from off the pace to score a convincing two-length victory at 27-1.
Fellow longshot Chanteline (11-1) finished 4 ¾ lengths ahead of Just Talkin for the place. They were followed across the line by Morticia, Girls Know Best, favored Triple Chelsea, Bowie, Fire Key and Brielle’s Appeal. The running time for 5 ½ furlongs over a “soft” Mellon course was 1:06.43.
“We had confidence,” said Chase Miller, assistant to (and son of) trainer Darin Miller. “She’s such an honest horse,
great to work around. [Jockey] Florent [Geroux] put her in a great spot. He rode her so confidently, I had a good feeling today.
“She beat some really nice fillies today,” Miller added, “so that’s something to encourage us, and [that] we can move on from.”
Ruby Notion enjoyed a trouble-free trip under Giroux, who was aboard for only the second time. After breaking well and racing in mid-pack, Geroux steered the Silverton Hill Farm homebred into the 3-path on the turn, passing horses and striking the front as the field straightened out. Ruby Notion then opened up on the field, striding away and maintaining a two-length advantage to the wire.
“When horses run on this type of ground, it’s just a question of who can handle it the most,” said Geroux. “It looked like she really enjoyed it out there. When I came turning for home, she gave me all the indication she was going to go all the way to the end.”
With Monday’s score, Ruby Notion improves her record to 5- 0- 3 from 13 starts. As a 2-year- old, she won a pair of stakes at Monmouth and Laurel, finishing the year with an up-the-track finish in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland. The West Virginia-bred daugh- ter of Great Notion’s lifetime bankroll stands at $276,578.
Ruby Notion paid $56.50 to win on a $2 wager. The exacta with Chanteline was worth $542.00.