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.