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Pool Land earns first Grade 1 in Ruffian Melnyk Racing Stable's POOL LAND (Silver Deputy) pressed the pacesetting Take D' Tour (Tour d'Or) through splits of :22 3/5, :45 3/5 and 1:10 1/5 in the early stages of Belmont Park's $294,000 Ruffian H. (G1), before taking over and going on for the two-length victory on Sunday. With John Velazquez aboard, the Todd Pletcher charge finished 1 1/16 miles on the fast dirt in 1:41 4/5 to add a first Grade 1 to her record. "I didn't think there was going to be a speed duel," assistant trainer Tristan Barry said. "Take D' Tour is a pretty strong filly, and I didn't think they would be able to rate her. Our filly is pretty sensible. As long as no came outside of her to push her on, I thought she was in a good spot. I would think Todd (Pletcher) would probably keep her fresh for the Breeders' Cup (on November 4 at Churchill Downs)." Sent off the 8-5 second pick, Pool Land was worth $5.20, $2.80 and $2.60 while keying the $10.80 exacta. Take D' Tour, who gave back $2.80 and $2.50 as the 3-2 favorite, finished a half-length in front of the sophomore Miss Shop (Deputy Minister), who returned $3 at 6-1. The 2-1-4 trifecta paid $24.80. Classy Charm (Silver Charm) was another 5 1/4 lengths back in fourth with Summerly (Summer Squall) another half-length adrift in last. Bred in Kentucky by Kings Way Farm Inc. & Windfield Farm, Pool Land brought $475,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling in 2003. The chestnut is the second registered foal out of the unraced Slew City Slicker (Slew City Slew), who is herself a half-sister to 1987 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) heroine Very Subtle (Hoist the Silver). Slew City Slicker's youngest offspring is an unnamed yearling filly by Grand Slam. Pool Land has also captured the Allaire Dupont Breeders' Cup Distaff S. (G3), Doubledogdare S. and Summer Colony S. this year, and was third in the Go for Wand H. (G1) prior to this one. The four-year-old lass now boasts an 8-6-0-1 career mark with $481,976 in lifetime earnings.
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