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Backseat Rhythm impresses in Garden City Paul Pompa's BACKSEAT RHYTHM (El Corredor) continued her mastery of the Belmont turf with a rallying, half-length decision in the $247,500 Garden City S. (G1) over the yielding going on Saturday. The Patrick Reynolds trainee, who is now perfect from three outings over this lawn, rated well off the pace while wide under Javier Castellano before putting in her dynamic late run, eventually clocking the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51 4/5. The nearly 5-1 co-third choice returned $11.80, $4.30 and $3.90 while topping the $32 exacta and $98 trifecta. Raw Silk (Malibu Moon), as expected, went straight to the front and dictated through splits of :25 1/5, :49 4/5 and 1:14 3/5 for the opening six panels. The pacesetter remained in front to midstretch, where she was confronted on her inside by My Princess Jess (Stormy Atlantic), and to her outside by Ariege (Doneraile Court), who took a brief lead inside the final furlong but could not hold off the charging Backseat Rhythm, who was just kicking into high gear. "She's by no means an Amazon, but she's got a great stride on her," Reynolds stated. "It was great coming from that far back with no pace. She's a no-excuse filly. She either gets there or she doesn't, and she always gives you her best." Pure Clan (Pure Prize) didn't find her best stride until late, but the classy filly closed with excellent energy in between runners to garner the place spot over her stable companion Ariege. Place was $2.40 and show was worth $2.60 with the entry finishing second and third at even-money. My Princess Jess, who was in tight along the rail for a good portion of the stretch run, finished fourth by a length as the 9-2 second choice. Raw Silk was another two lengths behind and was trailed by Alwajeeha (Dixieland Band), Shaker (Ire) (Key of Luck) and Satan's Circus (Gone West). Country Star (Empire Maker) and Senior Rita Lady (Fusaichi Pegasus), both of whom were entered as main-track only candidates, scratched. Backseat Rhythm's record now reads 12-4-1-3, $607,195. 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 three starts back, when she wired an entry-level allowance field at Belmont, and was most recently an impressive, 3 1/4-length heroine of the Lake Placid S. (G2). 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). The Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) at Keeneland on October 11 could be next for Backseat Rhythm. "We're invited to the Queen Elizabeth II," Reynolds explained. "I hear when you are invited, they give you a free meal. I'm a sucker for that, so we'll see what happens."
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