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Denomination shows no rust in Athenia Unraced since her win in the May 30 Violet Handicap at Monmouth Park, Denomination came back strong off the 4 1/2-month freshening in Saturday's $100,000 Athenia Handicap at Belmont Park, rallying to a 2 3/4-length decision on the yielding turf. Jockey Joe Bravo guided the five-year-old mare to her third Grade 3 stakes victory of the year. Stormy Dixie seized the lead after the start, establishing opening splits in :23 4/5, :48 1/5 and 1:12 3/5 with even-money favorite Unbridled Humor tracking her in second, and Denomination rated about four lengths off the early pace in sixth after opening the first half-mile. The late runner found her best stride after turning into the stretch, quickly accelerating into contention. Unbridled Humor had surged to a clear lead off the far turn and dug in briefly when challenged in midstretch, but Denomination was able to carry her momentum to a comfortable win in deep stretch. She completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:44. Off as the 9-2 fourth choice among seven rivals, the winner paid $11, $3.90 and $3.30. Unbridled Humor saved the place from the late-closing Countess Lemonade in third. Thai Haku, Nefertiti, Thundering Emelia and Stormy Dixie rounded out the order of finish. Owned by Ghislaine Head and trained by Christophe Clement, Denomination also captured the March 12 Hillsborough Handicap at Tampa Bay Down. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Smart Strike has now earned $489,301 from her 22-7-4-3 career ledger. "She ran a great race, she belongs to Mrs. Head, who is married to Alec Head, who is one of my mentors," Clement said. "It's a wonderful story and I'm absolutely delighted. They've been great people to all my family. Denomination has won three Grade 3s this year, she will probably go to the November Fasig-Tipton sale. You couldn't do much better advertising than just to win today." Bred by Brookdale Thoroughbreds, Denomination is out of the unraced Storm Cat mare Dreamlike and counts as half-siblings multiple Grade 2 victor Woke Up Dreamin, who is by Holy Bull; a yearling filly by Lemon Drop Kid; and a 2011 filly by Macho Uno. Dreamlike is a daughter of the Affirmed mare Flawlessly, who was named champion turf mare in 1992 and 1993. She compiled nine Grade 1 wins and earned more than $2.5 million in her 28-race career. Denomination started her racing career in France, posting victories in the Group 3 Prix Vanteaux and the listed Prix Finlande as well as three stakes placings. The bay mare finished second in the 2009 Pebbles S. at Belmont Park but dropped her first six starts in the United States before capturing an optional claiming event at Tampa Bay Downs in late December.
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