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Pomeorys Pistol punches Breeders' Cup ticket in Gallant Bloom

Pomeroys Pistol earned her shot at BC glory when taking the Gallant Bloom (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) For a third time in the past four runnings, a three-year-old has upstaged her elders in the $150,000 Gallant Bloom H. (G2), Belmont Park's 6 1/2-furlong dash for fillies and mares. The heroine Saturday was POMEROYS PISTOL (Pomeroy), who provided owner-trainer Amy Tarrant not only a victory but an excuse to make travel plans for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) in Louisville, Kentucky. Tracking in second as 2010 Gallant Bloom runner-up Moontune Missy (Forest Wildcat) reeled off splits of :22 and :45, Pomeroys Pistol began to apply more pressure on that rival approaching the quarter pole. Seizing control entering the stretch, Pomeroys Pistol was kept to task by Javier Castellano and successfully fended off a challenge from 4-1 third choice Tamarind Hall (Graeme Hall). Pomeroys Pistol extended her margin to four lengths at the wire and completed the distance in 1:16 3/5 over the good main track. "I thought she was absolutely awesome," Tarrant said. "It was the best result we could possibly expect: it wasn't by a nose, it wasn't by a head. She pretty much dominated, I think, in the race. We're very excited about it, and now she is going to go home for a nice rest and we're going to be looking towards the Breeders' Cup (Filly & Mare Sprint) for her. We'll be staying at Monmouth and shipping out to Kentucky on (October 31)."

The Filly & Mare Sprint, contested at seven furlongs, is scheduled for November 4 at Churchill Downs.

Pomeroys Pistol paid $6.10, $3.40 and $3.10 as the 2-1 second choice. Tamarind Hall had a 1 1/2-length lead on 14-1 longshot Lovely Lil (Tiznow) for runner-up honors, with 18-1 chance Moontune Missy 1 3/4 lengths farther back in fourth. Even-money favorite Tar Heel Mom (Flatter) raced along the rail down the backside and failed to muster a rally. At the finish she narrowly held off Buckleupbuttercup (Najran), who trailed throughout. Katy Now (Tiznow) was scratched.

Pomeroys Pistol was a debut winner at Monmouth last August, ran fifth in the Sorority S. and then was third in an allowance to conclude her juvenile campaign. Second in the Old Hat S. (G3) to kick off her 2011 season, she rebounded to clinch the Forward Gal S. (G2) at Gulfstream by three parts of a length. After a third in the Davona Dale S. (G2) and sixth in the Eight Belles S. (G3), Pomeroys Pistol got a confidence booster winning the Just Smashing S. at Monmouth by 4 1/2 lengths. She preceded this victory with second-place efforts in the Prioress S. (G1) and Test S. (G1). Her bankroll now sits at $450,178 from a line of 11-4-3-2.

Bred in Florida by Hardacre Farm, Pomeroys Pistol was produced by the unraced Prettyatthetable (Point Given), making her a half-sister to the stakes-placed D'cats Meow (D'wildcat), a yearling colt by Indy Wind and a weanling filly by Indy Wind. Pomeroys Pistol's second dam was the multiple stakes winner Swearingen (Deposit Ticket), who hails from the family of Grade 1 winners Harlan (Storm Cat) and Things Change (Stalwart).

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