Rose Catherine, a 4-year-old Speightstown filly, held off Sea Road by a half length in the $60,000 Nonsuch Bay S. for fillies and mares on the firm turf at Belmont Park.
John Velazquez guided Rose Catherine to a front running victory. She dueled two wide through the first half mile in a quick :45.24 seconds, then pulled away by two lengths in mid-stretch before holding off some late challengers with energy in reserve. The Todd Pletcher trainee ran the six furlongs in 1:08.74.
This was the fifth stakes win for the dark bay filly, and her seventh in 16 lifetime starts. Remarkably, her five stakes scores have all come at different tracks.
Rose Catherine has now earned $567,977 for owner Paul Pompa, Jr. Pompa bought his prize filly at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, signing the ticket for $410,000.
Rose Catherine is part of Speightstown’s excellent third crop of foals. The now 13-year-old stallion finished 2010 as the nation’s second-ranked third crop sire and is on the cusp of the top 20 among all sires this year.
