Blowout Blows Away Pebbles Foes

ELMONT, NY – Peter Brant’s Blowout took control early and never relented en route to a gate-to-wire score in Saturday’s $200,000 Pebbles Stakes at Belmont Park.

Breaking swiftly from post 2 under John Velazquez as the 5/2 third choice, Blowout surged ahead to take the lead and crossed over to the rail to set the pace. Passing Out gave closest chase through opening fractions of :23.30, :46.24, and 1:09.99.

Still in hand as she rounded the far turn, Blowout waited until Velazquez gave her the cue before kicking into high gear. Continuing to run strongly the length of the stretch, the Chad Brown trainee crossed 2 1/4 lengths ahead in a final time of 1:33.35 for the mile-long event over the firm turf course.

“We knew she had speed,” Velazquez said. “We were just trying to keep her calm in the post parade and hope she would give me a little break in the first part of the race. Obviously, she did, and she had something left running down the lane.”

The 2/1 favorite Seek and Destroy came charging from off the pace to get second behind her stablemate, heading Feel Glorious for the placing. Alasaayil was fourth ahead of East, who necked out a tired Passing Out for fifth. Eyeinthesky faded steadily after racing rank early on and completed the order of finish.

Blowout’s win was her second against stakes company, having won the Wild Applause Stakes here on June 22 in her only other Belmont Park appearance. The 3-year-old daughter of Dansili, unraced as a juvenile, now carries a record of 7-3-3-1 with $286,100 earned.

“She runs her race every time,” said assistant trainer Whit Beckman. “She a nice filly. She tries hard and when she gets her trip, she’s capable. She’s a pretty determined horse and when asked, she does the job perfectly.”

Blowout returned $7.70 to win, $3.40 to place, and $2.40 to show. Seek and Destroy brought back $3.20 to place and $2.50 to show, while Feel Glorious paid $4.50 to show.