Giants plays hard to catch in New York

Though eligible for a first-level allowance heading into Saturday's $150,000

New York

S. (G2), Newsells Park Stud's regally-bred GIANTS PLAY (Giant's Causeway)

reached the winner's circle after a masterful ride by Rajiv Maragh. Sent to the

lead at the start by Maragh, Giants Play slowed the pace to a virtual crawl --

the fractions were :26 1/5, :52 4/5, 1:17 3/5 and 1:41 2/5 -- and had just

enough left in the tank to hold off the late-charging Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune)

by a head in a time of 2:04 3/5 for 1 1/4 miles on Belmont Park's firm inner

turf. The 7-2 third choice in a field of six fillies and mares, Giants Play

returned $9.20, $4.50, $2.40.

The tepid fractions worked against 7-5 favorite Hibaayeb (GB) (Singspiel

[Ire]), a multiple Grade/Group 1 winner who tracked in second most of the way.

When asked to go after Giants Play in the stretch, she could not gain any ground

and ultimately weakened under pressure. Zagora, who saved ground near the back

of the compact field, found running room in the lane and just missed overcoming

the disadvantageous pace scenario. The 8-5 second choice, Zagora had 2 3/4

lengths on Hibaayeb at the finish. The favorite narrowly held third by a nose

over Freedom Rings (Proud Citizen), with Prize Catch (A.P. Indy) and La Cloche (Ghostzapper)

completing the order of finish. Trix in the City (Friends Lake) was scratched.

"Rajiv gave her a great ride," trainer Christophe Clement said. "She is an

improving filly. Very well bred, so to win a graded stakes was a goal this year.

She's done it. Where do we go next? I don't have a clue. Let's enjoy it. It is a

big deal. It's an amazing pedigree, and she's obviously a very valuable mare."

An $850,000 Keeneland September yearling bred by Swettenham Stud in Kentucky,

Giants Play was conditioned by Sir Michael Stoute when based in England at ages

two and three. A performer in minor events, her lone victory in seven

appearances in England came in a 1 1/2-mile maiden over the Kempton Park

Polytrack. Stakes-placed over synthetic at Lingfield in her European finale, she

joined the Clement barn in Florida this past winter. Third behind La Luna De

Miel (Ger) (Monsun) in a first-level allowance at Gulfstream on February 18, she

occupied the same position against that rival in the Orchid S. (G3) the

following month. Last time, Giants Play finished a length second to Hibaayeb in

the Sheepshead Bay S. (G2). Her record now stands at 11-2-2-5, $155,949.

Giants Play is the first foal out of the English juvenile filly co-highweight

Playful Act (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who brought $10.5 million as a broodmare

prospect at the 2007 Keeneland November sale. Playful Act's most latest

offspring is the unraced juvenile filly Anjaz (Street Cry [Ire]).

Playful Act was produced by the Group 3 winner Magnificent Style (Silver

Hawk), whose long string of successful offspring include Percussionist (Sadler's

Wells), a Group 2 winner on the flat and hero of 2010 Grand National

Steeplechase (NSA-G1) at Far Hills; the multiple Group 2-winning producer Echoes

in Eternity (Ire) (Spinning World); Grade 2 winner Changing Skies (Ire)

(Sadler's Wells); Nathaniel (Galileo [Ire]), recent winner of the King Edward

VII S. (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot; multiple stakes winner Stylelistick (Storm Cat);

and Group 2-placed stakes winner Petara Bay (Peintre Celebre).

This extended family is also responsible for Grade/Group 1 winners Siberian

Summer (Siberian Express), Silver Ending (Silver Hawk) and Calvaryman (Halling),

as well as New Zealand Group 1 standouts Te Akau Pearl (*Sir Tristam), Champagne

(Zabeel) and St Reims (Zabeel). Giants Play's fifth dam was Broodmare of the Year

Delta (*Nasrullah), the dam of Wood Memorial S. winner and dual classic-placed

Dike (*Herbager).