Strict Compliance got a stiff challenge from Isabella Sings in the stretch run of the $100,000 Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. IIIT) Sept. 5 at Monmouth Park, but found just enough in the final strides to earn her first graded score for trainer Chad Brown.
Off as the 3-2 favorite, the 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief sat sixth early in the 1 1/8-mile turf race, moved up three wide in the backstretch and through the final turn, and wore down Isabella Sings to win by a nose. Pine Needles was three lengths back in third.
Isabella Sings shot to the lead and set fractions of :22.14, :45.81, and 1:10.01 through six furlongs, and had her head in front every step until the final moments. Strict Compliance stopped the clock in 1:46.69 over firm turf.
“I had to move a little earlier than I wanted,” said winning jockey Joe Bravo. “(Jockey) Paco (Lopez aboard Isabella Sings) did a great job slowing things down up front. Going into the race, I thought I couldn’t lose. At the eighth pole I wasn’t as sure, but when you ride for Chad Brown you know you’re sitting on a good horse and this filly really kicked it in when it mattered.”
The winner paid $5, $2.80, and $2.40 across the board. Isabella Sings brought $5.60 and $3.60, and Pine Needles delivered $3 to show.
Bred in Florida by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Thompson and Linda Thompson out of the Grand Slam mare Diva Dyna, Strict Compliance now has a 4-1-1 record from seven starts with $302,600 in earnings for owners Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence.
She began her 3-year-old campaign with a maiden-breaking win atGulfstream Park, won an allowance at Keeneland, and then took the Penn Oaks in May before a fourth-place finish to stablemate Lady Eli in the Belmont Oaks (gr. IT) and a third in the Maker’s Mark Lake Placid Stakes (gr. IIT).
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