Lady Carlock survives objection in Suwannee River

Bentley Smith's homebred LADY CARLOCK (Chester House) wore down Mushka

(Empire Maker) late in Sunday's $125,000

Suwannee River S. (G3), and then survived an objection, to notch her first

career stakes victory. Trained by Carl Nafzger and piloted by Jermaine

Bridgmohan, the nearly 14-1 outsider completed nine furlongs on Gulfstream

Park's firm turf in 1:47 3/5 and returned $29.60, $13.80 and $8.

In the early going, Lady Carlock was anchored in last, while at the head of

affairs, a hard-held Tejida (Rahy) showed the way through an opening quarter in

:24 3/5. Flibberjibit (Arch) took over from her swinging into the backstretch

and proceeded to reel off splits of :49 2/5 and 1:12 2/5. Mushka was well placed

in a stalking position, just waiting to pounce.

At the head of the lane, Mushka accosted the pacesetter and soon struck the

front, but Lady Carlock was just unleashing her late run on the outside. As she

gained on Mushka, things tightened up behind them, and Long Approach (Broad

Brush) was forced to steady. Lady Carlock's forward momentum proved to be

irresistible, and she overpowered Mushka by a head at the wire. Another 1 1/4

lengths back came Drop a Line (Lemon Drop Kid), who garnered third by a head

from Long Approach.

Long Approach's rider, Julien Leparoux, promptly claimed foul against

Bridgmohan, alleging interference in the stretch. After reviewing the video, the

stewards disallowed the claim and declared Lady Carlock the winner.

"I think the eight (Mushka) came out more than I came in," Bridgmohan said.

"I didn't think it was my fault, and I was glad they left her up. She ran a

fantastic race. She's a one-run filly, so I just tried to not take anything away

from her."

"I was concerned that the pace might not be fast enough up front, but she got

there," Nafzger said. "She's good and sound and will go on and race this year."

Mushka, sent off at 8-1, gave back $9 and $7.20 and concluded the $247.20

exacta. Drop a Line furnished $11 to show at nearly 15-1. The trifecta was worth

$3,194.20, and with the 6-1 Long Approach in fourth, the 2-8-4-1 superfecta

ballooned to $17,294.40. Callwood Dancer (Ire) (Danehill Dancer), the 9-5

favorite, was unable to land a blow from off the pace and wound up fifth. Tejida,

Waquoit's Love (Not for Love) and Flibberjibit rounded out the order under the

wire. Ballymore Lady (War Chant) and The Niagara Queen (Langfuhr) were

withdrawn.

Lady Carlock improved her record to 19-4-6-3 with $273,527 in earnings. Her

best previous stakes finishes were a close second in the Old Red S. at Saratoga

and a distant third in the Arlington Matron H. (G3) on Polytrack. Her resume

also includes a new course record at Keeneland, where she finished 1 3/16 grassy

miles in 1:58 2/5. The five-year-old mare was coming off a runner-up effort in

an allowance/optional claimer at Churchill Downs last November.

The Kentucky-bred bay was produced by the Nashwan mare Incha (GB), making her

a half-sister to multiple Grade 3 queen Solvig (Caerleon) and last year's Svensk

Derby winner Swing That Cat (Cat Thief). Lady Carlock's third dam is Broodmare

of the Year Toll Booth (Buckpasser), dam of champion sprinter Plugged Nickle

(Key to the Mint). She therefore hails from the family of such luminaries as

Horse of the Year and mega-sire A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew); Preakness S. (G1) hero

Summer Squall (Storm Bird); and Belmont S. (G1) victor and champion Lemon Drop

Kid (Kingmambo).