Blue Mountain: Rose Tree pulls away
Rose Tree improved her record to 2 for 2 by winning the $100,000 Blue Mountain Juvenile Fillies for trainer Jonathan Sheppard.
Rose Tree advanced outside horses on the far turn of the six-furlong race for Pennsylvania-bred 2-year-old fillies, then took the lead from front-running Ianthe nearing the furlong pole and drew off to win by 3 3/4 lengths.
In her October debut at Delaware Park, Rose Tree had won an open maiden race by 9 1/4 lengths.
Rose Tree, who races for Buttonwood Farm, paid $7.20 in the Blue Mountain. She covered six furlongs under jockey Andrew Wolfsont in 1:11.24
La Vitesse, the 3-5 favorite, became fractious in the starting gate when the horse to her inside, Hygh Life, unseated her rider. La Vitesse was unloaded from the gate, then raced forwardly for three furlongs before dropping from contention. She finished seventh, beaten 22 lengths.
Hygh Life was scratched after acting up in the gate.
Ianthe was second, finishing five lengths clear of third-place Peach Alley.
Source: Jim DunLeavy, Daily Racing Form