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Karen's Caper closes fast to earn Noble Damsel Stonerside Stable's homebred KAREN'S CAPER (War Chant) rated patiently in midpack beneath Edgar Prado to the stretch, and then put in a superb run down the lane to collar pacesetter Pommes Frites (Dynaformer) and earn a tally in the $155,366 Noble Damsel Breeders' Cup H. (G3) over the Belmont turf. Pommes Frites quickly flashed to the lead as she customarily does, and the filly set mild splits of :24, :48 1/5 and 1:11 4/5 for the opening six furlongs. As the field turned for home, the front runner appeared to be well on her way to victory, but she had no answer for the oncoming winner. Karen's Caper was three-quarters of a length clear at the wire for trainer Bobby Frankel, completing the firm-turf mile in 1:34 4/5. Sent off at 9-5 odds, she gave back $5.80, $3.60 and $2.40 while topping the $23.20 exacta, $49.20 trifecta and $136 superfecta (6-4-1-5). Pommes Frites finished three-parts clear of her nearest pursuer, paying $4 and $3 as the 3-1 second choice. Mauralakana (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]), making her U. S. debut in here, closed well from far back to garner the show, worth $2.80 at 3-1. Bright Abundance (Quiet American) was next and trailed by Sabellina (Langfuhr), Humoristic (Sefapiano), Safari Queen (Arg) (Lode) and Prop Me Up (Reparations). His Beauty (Adcat) was withdrawn. Bred in the Bluegrass State, the winner was produced from the Grade 3-winning Miss Caerleona (Fr) (Caerleon) and was preceded in stakes glory by 2004 Davona Dale S. (G2) heroine Miss Coronado (Coronado's Quest). Miss Caerleona is also responsible for the unraced two-year-old colt Commodore Bob (Coronado's Quest). Karen's Caper, who was exiting a strong runner-up performance in the Ballston Spa H. (G2), improved her career mark to 12-3-4-0, $452,113. The four-year-old bay previously captured the Nell Gwyn S. (Eng-G3), and she finished second in the Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) and Coronation S. (Eng-G1) last year. "I thought she was compromised (in the Ballston Spa) by a slow pace," Frankel said. "That was a concern today also with Pommes Frites in there. Edgar had her in a good spot and she kicked in real hard." The Hall of Fame conditioner said he would likely point Karen's Caper to the $400,000 First Lady S. (G2) at Keeneland on October 14.
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