Lady Paname Launches Powerfully in G3 Long Island

SOUTH OZONE PARK, NY – Following her stateside debut win at Belmont Park last month, Lady Paname made it two straight after rallying furiously down the stretch to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Long Island Stakes at Aqueduct.

Breaking from post 10 at 7/2 odds under Irad Ortiz, Jr., Lady Paname soon settled comfortably in midpack while the 5/2 favorite Lady Montdore and Night of England took turns posting fractions of :25.48, :50.46, 1:16.67, and 1:41.04 for the opening 8 furlongs. Beginning to advance as she made her second pass through the far turn, Lady Paname hit the top of the stretch full of run and began chasing down Night of England. Rallying furiously with every stride, Lady Paname roared past the pacesetter inside the final 1/2-furlong, then continued on strongly through to the wire to win by a 1/2-length. The Chad Brown trainee completed the 11-furlong event over the firm turf course in a final time of 2:16.15.

“I got a perfect trip,” said Ortiz, Jr. “She relaxed so well. She appreciated the distance. Last time, she went a mile and 1/4; that’s not her. At Belmont, she looked so good, but she improved today from the last race. Now, in her second race, she was much better. She broke out of there, I put my hands down, and she relaxed so well. She needs some time to start going, so I’ve been breezing her in the morning, and now I know her. I started moving a little early, but then when I took her out, she was running in the end.”

After closely tracking the pacesetters in third, Tricky Escape was in prime position to explode late but wasn’t able to hold off the eventual winner and had to settle for second. Danceland headed Si Que Es Buena for third, with Night of England just a nose back. Golden Attitude was another 1/2-length back in sixth, while Lady Montdore weakened to seventh. Pollara, Violet Blue, and Gipoia completed the order of finish. Pamina stumbled badly as she exited gate 8 and lost her rider but was quickly corralled by an outrider. Jockey Edgar Prado walked off under his own power.

Lady Paname’s win was her first in a graded event and improved the lightly-raced French-bred filly’s overall record to 8-3-1-2. The 4-year-old daughter of Soldier of Fortune increased her lifetime bankroll to $341,408 for owners Madaket Stables, James Covello, Kent Spellman, and Doheny Racing Stable.

“She’s a horse that’s developed and come along nicely for us,” Brown said. “We bought this horse with good intentions and unfortunately, she suffered from some issues right away. I have to thank the ownership group for being patient. We gave her a lot of time off.”

Lady Paname returned $9.90 to win, $5.70 to place, and $4 to show. Tricky Escape brought back $8.20 to place and $6 to show, while Danceland paid $7.90 to show.