Emma's Encore pulled off a shocking upset this afternoon in the $150,000 Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III), rallying past Jamaican Smoke and Tu Endie Wei in deep stretch to win the six-furlong race by about 2 1/2 lengths.
Ridden to victory by Junior Alvarado for trainer Allen Jerkens, Emma's Encore settled into the fifth position early on, well behind the early pace set by heavily favored Agave Kiss and Jamaican Smoke, who blazed the opening quarter in :21.46 seconds while separated by just a head. Tu Endie Wei and Gypsy Robin were racing together a couple of lengths behind the leaders, followed by Emma's Encore and a slow-starting Sea Island.
Agave Kiss and Jamaican Smoke continued their duel for the lead through a half-mile in :44 seconds flat, after which Agave Kiss gave way en route to a fifth-place finish. This left Jamaican Smoke with the lead, but she was soon challenged by Tu Endie Wei, who was rallying strongly on the far outside. But the quick pace eventually took its toll on both of them, and Emma's Encore was able to rally fast on the far outside to secure a decisive victory, stopping the clock in the quick time of 1:08.89.
Jamaican Smoke held off Tu Endie Wei for second, while Sea Island, Agave Kiss, and Gypsy Robin completed the order of finish. For Agave Kiss, it was her first defeat in seven starts.
-Keelerman
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