Samitar wins Belmont's Garden City Stakes
September 15, 2012NEW YORK (AP) - Samitar beat Somali Lemonade by a head Saturday in the $300,000 Garden City Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf at Belmont Park.
After running 10 times in Europe, Samitar missed by only a neck in her U.S. debut in the Lake George Stakes at Saratoga in July. This time, she got the narrow decision for her second stakes victory to go along with the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh in Ireland in May.
Ramon Dominguez was aboard for trainer Chad Brown as British-bred Samitar ran 1 1-8 miles in 1:48.74 over the firm course, paying $3.70, $2.70 and $2.20.
Somali Lemonade returned $4.20 and $3.10, and Tannery paid $3.70 to show.
Ciao Bella was fourth, followed by Open Water, Trophy Wife and Karlovy Vary.
One race earlier, Naples Bay beat Dealbata by 1 1/2 lengths in the $150,000 Noble Damsel for fillies and mares on the grass. Jose Lezcano rode for trainer Christophe Clement as the 4-year-old ran a mile in 1:33.96, paying $28 to win.