Striking sensation. (Joe Labozetta)
NYRA News Agency
OZONE PARK, NY – Richard Emmett and Joel Politi’s Striking sensation stood out with by far the best first-stakes win in Sunday’s Listed $150,000 Turnback the Alarm, a nine-furlong route for fillies and mares 3 years and older on the final day of the fall meeting in Belmont at the Big A.
The 4-year-old Take Charge Indy dark bay, trained by Tom Amoss, came in after a pair of convincing victories, including by 2 1/2 lengths over Catherine Wheel in multiple stakes on a nine-furlong route in July at Saratoga Race Course, prior to a final optional claiming score of 1 1/2 lengths from 1 1/16 miles on September 27 at Churchill Downs.
Standouts Sensation, piloted by Kendrick Carmouche, broke sharply from post 3 and followed the pace-setting Tipple in through the first quarter-mile in 24.57 seconds over the fast dirt.
Standoutsensation maintained its trailing position behind the Jose Lezcano-driven Tipple at the rear, with Central Avenue, Indy Label and Ruth completing the half mile in 49.07 right behind them.
“Tom never told me to take charge,” Carmouche said. “He told me I just had to get in a good spot and ride her to win. Lezcano wanted it more and I didn’t want to go too fast early because that means Santana’s horse [Indy Label] or Prat’s horse [Ruth] would form the ground.”
Entering the second corner Tipple recorded three quarters in 1:13.62, but Standoutsensation loomed and took command shortly afterwards.
“I just let her go nice and easy – we went 24, 49, 1:13 and some change – once I got to the five-sixteenth pole I wanted to take the race to them,” Carmouche said.
The Standouts sensation was in control at the top of the track and as she straightened up for home, Carmouche asked her for more and she set up a 3 1/2 length cushion through the stretch call. Standoutsensation remained in control and won by 1 1/4 lengths from the late running Ruth in a final time of 1:52.32.
Indy Label finished third and Tipple completed the superfecta. Central Avenue rounded out the order of finish.
Standoutsensation was retired by Amoss for $100,000 from a maiden score in November 2023 at Churchill Downs, four starts before her only previous stakes attempt when a 7 1/4-length fifth after the victorious Leslie’s Rose in last year’s Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland. She went 0-for-9 last year, with five seconds, but has now won three of her last four starts.
“Every step of the way she was very attentive to the horses that were around her. She would warn me when it was time to go,” Carmouche said.
Flavien Prat, jockey for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher-trained Ruth, said the lone sophomore in the field suffered a defeat.
“She traveled well. I thought I was in a good spot, and she gave me a good run,” Prat said.
Bred in Kentucky by Edward Seltzer, Beverly Seltzer and Jamie Frost, Standout Sensation was originally a $50,000 Keeneland September Yearling sale purchase but earned $82,500 in wins while improving her record to 23-5-9-1 and returning $2.92 for a $2 win bet as the after-time favorite.
Live racing resumes Thursday on the opening day of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack with a nine-race card, featuring the rescheduled Listed $150,000 Tempted in Race 2 and the Listed $150,000 Chelsey Flower in Race 6. The first post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.
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