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Masseuse has winning touch in Beaugay After a protracted stretch duel, MASSEUSE (Dynaformer) just wore down an ultra-game Stormy Kiss (Arg) (Bernstein) in the final strides of Saturday's $113,600 Beaugay H. (G3) to record her first stakes victory. The James Toner mare stopped the teletimer in 1:47 2/5 for 1 1/16 miles on the yielding turf at Aqueduct. With Edgar Prado in the irons, Masseuse settled in midpack early as Samsincharge (Dixie Brass) set a dawdling pace through fractions of :25 2/5 and :51 2/5. Stormy Kiss kept the leader squarely in her sights while tracking in second, and Masseuse took slightly closer order on the outside by the time six furlongs were passed in 1:17. Stormy Kiss collared the longtime leader and put her head in front on the far turn, but Masseuse was already ranging up to join her entering the stretch. For a while, Stormy Kiss dug down and refused to surrender her slim advantage. The longer they went, however, the harder it was to resist Masseuse's challenge, and the winner subdued the runner-up by a neck at the wire. "She did hang a little bit at the end, but I don't think she was crazy about the course," Toner said. "I think she did this strictly on her own -- strictly class." "The course is very soft, especially at the half-mile pole -- it's like a swamp," Prado noted. "She really tried and fought very hard." The top pair drew 2 1/2 lengths clear of their nearest pursuers. Finlandia (Royal Anthem) snared third by a nose from Artistic Express (Western Expression), who had just a neck to spare over 6-5 favorite Miss Shop (Deputy Minister). Wait It Out (Swain [Ire]) and a tailed-off Samsincharge completed the order under the wire. Rahys' Appeal (Rahy), A True Pussycat (Yes It's True) and Swap Fliparoo (Exchange Rate) were withdrawn. Leaving the gate as the 2-1 second choice, Masseuse returned $6.30, $4 and $3 while spearheading exotics worth $57.50 (exacta) and $195.50 (9-8-2 trifecta). The 12-1 Stormy Kiss gave back $9.70 and $4.40, and Finlandia furnished $3.10 to show at odds of nearly 3-1. Masseuse advanced her mark to 10-4-1-2 with $212,610 in earnings for owners Elser, Nicholson et al. The dark bay appeared to have a bright future on the turf in 2005, when she scored two impressive wins at Belmont and came within a neck of catching My Typhoon (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) in the Virginia Oaks. Unfortunately, she was sidelined for nearly a year thereafter. Her misfortune continued as she tried to mount a comeback last summer, as she suffered a muscle injury in the Matchmaker S. (G3) at Monmouth Park and was again shelved. Masseuse returned to action as a five-year-old in March, finishing an encouraging third in the Hillsborough S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. Bred in Kentucky by Cherry Valley Farm, Masseuse brought $35,000 as a Keeneland September yearling in 2003. Her dam, the winning Mr. Prospector mare Pedicure, has also produced multiple stakes victor Buff (Pleasant Tap), stakes winner Second Performance (Theatrical [Ire]), an unnamed juvenile filly by Maria's Mon and a yearling colt by Pleasantly Perfect. Toner identified the June 16 All Along Breeders' Cup S. (G3) at Colonial Downs or the June 23 New York Breeders' Cup H. (G2) as her next possible target. "I've got some big goals picked out for her, and she's taken the next step," her trainer said.
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