G R and S Stable’s FIFTH AVENUE (Monarchos) tracked in second to the first
call of Thursday’s $81,000
Fashion S. at Belmont Park, then quickly took over and
led into the stretch where she gamely held off the late surge of Blissful Trip (Trippi) to take the five-furlong test by a
nose. With Pablo Fragoso in the irons, the Mark Hennig-trained juvenile miss
finished in :58 1/5 over the fast track and returned $7.30, $4.30 and $2.70
as the 5-2 second choice, starting the $104 exacta and $248 trifecta (6-2-4).
Blissful Trip, making just her second career start off a 1 1/2-length maiden
win, was sent off at 27-1 and rewarded her backers with payouts of $13.80 and
$4.80 for easily holding 2-1 favorite Successful Romance (Successful Appeal) to
third by four lengths. Show was worth $2.80. Luxury Ride (Pulpit) was a neck
farther back in fourth and followed by Stolen Prayer (Songandaprayer) and Flame
Stitch (Saint Ballado).
Fifth Avenue entered Thursday’s race off a 3 1/4-length maiden win in her career debut.
With Thursday’s victory, the bay lass now has $74,400 in accumulated earnings.