No Show Sammy Jo. (Jeffrey Snyder/MJC)
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Bridlewood Farm and Madaket Stables’ 4-year-old filly No Show Sammy Jo, making just her fifth career start and first in stakes company, overtook pacesetter Cut From Class in mid-stretch and went on to a 1 ¼-length victory in the $100,000 All Along.
Ridden by Jorge Ruiz for trainer Graham Motion, No Show Sammy Jo ($3) covered 1 1/8 miles over a firm Kelso turf course in 1:47.54 to extend her win streak to four races dating back to her June 2023 graduation at Belmont Park.
“This really set up well,” Motion said. “We got a little backed up over the summer when a couple of her races came off the grass. She won pretty nicely last time, and this just seemed like a really good spot to get some black type for her.”
Ruiz had No Show Sammy Jo settled on the rail in third as Cut From Class ran a quarter-mile in 24.10 seconds and a half in 48.55 with Motion-trained Brazilian Group 1 winner For Flying in second. Ruiz tipped off the inside approaching the stretch and powered through the lane to reel in Cut From Class and have plenty left to hold off a late bid from late-running Italian Group 1 winner Atomic Blonde, who edged 19-1 long shot Circle Home by a neck for second.
“She is so good,” Motion said. “When a horse is that good, they can kind of put themselves wherever they want. I think that gives Jorge a lot of options.”
Cut From Class, For Flying, She’s Dancing, and Blood Orange completed the order of finish. Multiple stakes winner Malibu Beauty, entered for main track only, was scratched.
No Show Sammy Jo did not race at 2 and made two starts last year, finishing fourth in her debut prior to her maiden victory. She did not race again until May 19, when she rallied for a neck victory going one mile on the Aqueduct turf. Last time out, she rolled to a 5 ½-length victory Aug. 24 at Colonial Downs.
“I really hadn’t thought beyond today,” Motion said. “We wanted to get through this, but I think she’s got a graded stake in her future, for sure.”
The All Along is named for the French-bred filly that won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Rothmans International, Turf Classic and Laurel’s Washington D.C. International in the span of 41 days in 1983 en route to becoming the first foreign-based horse to be voted U.S. Horse of the Year. A winner of nine races and more than $3 million in purses from 21 starts, she was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1990.
