Lawrence Peifer’s Dade Babe jumped out to an easy lead in
the Grade III $100,000 Pucker Up Stakes and never looked back en route to a 3
3/4-length score in the Labor Day headliner at Arlington Park.
Trained by Danny Miller, the daughter of Cimarron Secret covered the mile and
an eighth over a turf course rated “good” in 1:51.77.
“It
was my plan to open up a couple of lengths but I didn’t think I’d be that far
out in front,” said winning jockey Florent Geroux. “She was going fast
but she was real relaxed. She took a breather when I wanted her to and
she ran well in the straight. She was just much the best today.”
Leading by as many as 10 lengths through much of the race,
Dade Babe posted fractions of 24.81, 49.72, 1:14.50 and 1:39.67 en route to the
final clocking, which was hand timed.
Claimed for $25,000 in March, the 3-year-old filly earned
$57,600 for her Pucker Up tally to boost her career bankroll to $122,440 while
bettering her overall record to five wins from 11 starts. She is three
for five since being claimed by Peifer and Miller.
La Cloche, the 2-1 post time favorite, made a late rally to
take the place spot over Hatoof Stakes winner Silent Candy, who finished third
in the nine-horse field.
“I just wanted to get my filly really comfortable in the
race, but that other filly was gone already,” said Junior Alvarado of his trip
aboard the runner-up. “She did really good but nobody was going to catch
the winner.”
Dundalk Dust, Maddie’s Odyssey, Cave Creeker, Mourette,
Besitos and Kilmore Quay completed the order of finish.
Dade Babe paid $15.20, $6.80 and $5.20. La Cloche
returned $3.60 and $3.20. Silent Candy paid $6.40.