Amerman Racing Stables’ High Quality
pressed the pace most of the way in Friday’s $53,000 allowance optional
claiming feature for older fillies and mares at Fair Grounds, appeared
beaten briefly
by Chrysalis Stables’ favored Silver La Belle
in the late stages of the 1 1/16-mile test taken off the grass and run
on the main track but then rallied gamely outside of that one to be best
by a neck.
Trained by
Paul McGee and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr.,
High Quality accomplished the distance in 1:43.29, increased her career
earnings to $108,995 with her third win in 11 lifetime
starts and returned mutuels of $11.40, $4.80 and $3.60.
Silver
La Belle, always well placed, took command inside the furlong grounds,
could not withstand the second surge of the winner but easily
held the place, paying $3 and $2.20 while finishing three lengths to
the good of Keith Plaisance’s
Palazzo Babe, who returned $6.20 to show after setting the pace with early splits of 24.96 and 49.20.