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Rhythm takes a Backseat to no one in Lake Placid Paul Pompa Jr.'s BACKSEAT RHYTHM (El Corredor) had taken a backseat to other rivals in her four prior graded stakes attempts, but in Friday's $150,000 Lake Placid S. (G2) at Saratoga, the bay sophomore produced a stirring late charge to win in emphatic style. Trained by Patrick Reynolds and ridden by Javier Castellano, Backseat Rhythm finished 1 1/8 miles on the yielding inner turf in 1:50 3/5. The 6-1 shot returned $14.40, $6.80 and $5.30 while starting the $180 exacta, $1,015 trifecta and $4,529 superfecta (6-2-8-4). In the opening stages, Encanto Park (Exchange Rate) led the way through splits of :23 3/5, :49 1/5 and 1:12 4/5. Raw Silk (Malibu Moon) tracked in second, with Much Obliged (Kingmambo), Zaskar (GB) (Anabaa) and Namaste's Wish (Pulpit) also prominent. At the tail of the field were Backseat Rhythm, who was fractious prior to stumbling at the start, and English shipper Rosa Grace (GB) (Lomitas [GB]). That picture changed considerably turning for home. Raw Silk accosted the pacesetter and grabbed the lead, but the deep closers were just beginning to get involved at the top of the stretch As Backseat Rhythm made progress on the far outside, Rosa Grace threatened between horses. In a few strides, however, Backseat Rhythm settled the issue, rapidly taking command to garner her first career stakes victory by an impressive 3 1/4 lengths. "No question, she was better coming from off the pace," Castellano said. "She can go to the lead, but there was a lot of speed, and I took advantage. I rode with a lot of patience. At one point I had to go around a horse and I saw everybody start backing up. I lost a lot of ground on the far turn, but I thought it was the best way for her, letting her make one big, strong move." "Being that far out of it and going 10-wide on the turn is never a good thing," Reynolds countered. "Neither is running into a slow pace. But the good ones overcome everything." Rosa Grace was herself 1 1/4 lengths clear in the runner-up spot, giving back $11.40 and $6.70 at a generous 12-1. Raw Silk, the 9-2 third choice, held third to pay $5. Namaste's Wish reported home fourth, followed by nearly 5-2 favorite I Lost My Choo (Western Expression). Next came Encanto Park, Zaskar and Much Obliged. Backseat Rhythm's record now reads 11-3-1-3, $457,195. A $75,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September, she RNA'ed for $240,000 as a Barretts March two-year-old. She showed versatility as a juvenile, capturing an unusually deep maiden special weight event on the turf before placing second in the Frizette S. (G1) and third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Backseat Rhythm returned to the grass two starts back, when she wired an entry-level allowance field at Belmont, and was most recently seventh in the American Oaks Invitational (G1). Bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Farm and Spast Farm, the winner is the first foal from Grade 3-placed Kiss a Miss (Kissin Kris), who is also responsible for an unraced juvenile colt named Barney Bass and an unnamed yearling filly, both by Vindication. This is the family of Grade 3 victor Native Regent (Vice Regent). Reynolds mentioned that the October 11 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland "sounds very tempting."
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