More Than Ready’s Partisan Politics got her second career stakes win on Monday with a 1 ½-length score in the $200,000 Pebbles S. at Belmont Park.
Winner of last year’s P.B. Johnson S. at Saratoga, Partisan Politics is now 2-2-1 in eight starts, with two losses by a nose in both the Riskaverse S. and Wild Applause S. this year.
The 3-year-old filly, who usually waits until the last moment to mount her rally, got the to the front will about a quarter mile to run after sitting in third in the early stages. Devine Aida gave chase in the stretch, but Partisan Politics was pulling away at the end to stop the timer in 1:34.43 for the mile on the firm turf.
“I had a beautiful trip,” said winning jockey Javier Castellano. “She broke well out of the gate and fell into a great stalking position. The pace was pretty quick and it set up perfect for my horse. She’s a really nice filly. She always tries and today she put in a good effort.
“(In her last few starts), I’ve been breaking a little slow,” added the rider. “My goal today was to be close to the pace, involved in the race, and be a little more aggressive. She’s the kind of horse you need to be in good position and going strong. I was a little aggressive today and it paid off. She finished really well.”
Trained by Chad Brown for Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, Partisan Politics upped her earnings to $284,300. She is the first foal out of Bluegrass Princess, who finished first in the Valley View S. (G3) at Keeneland.
More Than Ready, a perennial top sire, has 105 winners to date this year, with progeny earnings topping $5.2 million. Internationally recognized, he is the sire of graded stakes winners in four countries in 2015.