Suwannee River

Under a perfectly timed ride by Edgar Prado, Monceaux Stable's NAISSANCE

ROYALE (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) got up by a measured neck in the $100,000

Suwannee River H. (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Sent off as the

even-money favorite, the five-year-old chestnut mare completed 1 1/8 miles on

the firm turf in 1:46 2/5 to pay $4.20, $2.80 and $2.20.

Prado reserved the Christophe Clement trainee well off the early tempo as

Silversider (Wekiva Springs) winged her way through fractions of :23 2/5, :47

and 1:11 2/5. Entering the stretch, the pacesetter was a spent force, and J'ray

(Distant View) burst from the pack to take control while getting the mile in

1:35 1/5. Naissance Royale was just beginning to unwind, however, and she

collared J'ray in the waning yards to post a smooth success.

"She's a beautiful filly," Prado said. "You saw what she can do today. She

can run down any horse in the stretch."

The valiant runner-up returned $3.40 and $2.60 as the 7-2 second choice. The

top pair drew 2 1/2 lengths clear of Potra Clasica (Arg) (Potrillon [Arg]), who

gave back $5.20 for third at 19-1, with the 9-2 Nottawasaga (Deputy Minister)

another neck back in fourth. The $1 exotics were worth $7 (exacta), $55.30 (trifecta)

and $178.30 (1-9-5-3 superfecta). Cursora (Arg) (Candy Stripes), Brazilian

(Stravinsky), La Dolce Vita (Quiet American), Silversider, Baleriana (Per) (Keseff)

and Jacaranda Jane (SAf) (Joshua Dancer) rounded out the order under the wire.

Naissance Royale's third career stakes score boosted her bankroll to $588,213

from her 16-5-5-1 line. Group 3-placed as a sophomore in France, she captured

the 2005 Lake Placid S. (G2) in her American debut and added the Nassau S.

(Can-G2) last summer at Woodbine. Naissance Royale was coming off three straight

placed efforts -- a third in the E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1), a heartbreaking loss

in the last stride of the Dahlia H. (G2) and in her most recent outing, a close

second in the Marshua's River S. after losing an insurmountable amount of ground

at the top of the lane.

Bred in Ireland by Dr. T. A. Ryan, the winner was sold as a yearling for

$535,000 at the 2003 Tattersalls Houghton sale. She is out of the winning Forty

Niner mare Net Worth, making her a half-sister to English Group 2-placed

Spinnette (Ire) (Spinning World). Net Worth has also produced a juvenile full

sister to the winner named Cafe Lassere.

Plans call for Naissance Royale to head to the breeding shed herself, and

Clement paid tribute to his admirable performer.

"She's been very consistent," the horseman said. "I was pretty confident.

When they are special, they can overcome bad trips, us (trainers) and any other

problems that come their way. She's due to be bred.

"We'll see," he added.