Standoutsensation. (Joe Labozzetta)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Richard Emmett and Joel Politi’s Standoutsensation stood out with a much-the-best first stakes victory in Sunday’s Listed $150,000 Turnback the Alarm, a nine-furlong route for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on Closing Day of the fall meet at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by Tom Amoss, the 4-year-old Take Charge Indy dark bay entered from a pair of convincing wins, including by 2 1/2 lengths over multiple stakes-placed Catherine Wheel in a nine-furlong route in July at Saratoga Race Course ahead of a last-out 1 1/2-length optional claiming score going 1 1/16 miles on September 27 at Churchill Downs.
Piloted by Kendrick Carmouche, Standoutsensation broke sharply from post 3 and tracked the pacesetting Tipple to her inside through the opening quarter-mile in 24.57 seconds over the fast dirt.
Standoutsensation maintained her tracking position behind the Jose Lezcano-piloted Tipple down the backside with Central Avenue, Indy Label and Ruth traveling close behind through the half-mile in 49.07.
“Tom never told me I had to go to the lead,” Carmouche said. “He told me to just sit in a good spot and ride her to win. Lezcano wanted it more and I didn’t want to go too fast early because that means that Santana’s horse [Indy Label] or Prat’s horse [Ruth] would make up the ground.”
Entering the second turn, Tipple marked three-quarters in 1:13.62, but Standoutsensation loomed large and took command shortly thereafter.
“I just let her go nice and easy – we went 24, 49, 1:13 and some change – once I got to the five-sixteenths pole, I wanted to take the race to them,” Carmouche said.
Standoutsensation was in control at the top of the lane and when straightened for home, Carmouche asked her for more and she established a 3 1/2-length cushion by the stretch call. Kept to task, Standoutsensation went on to win by 1 1/4 lengths over the late-running Ruth in a final time of 1:52.32.
Indy Label finished third with Tipple completing the superfecta. Central Avenue rounded out the order of finish.
Standoutsensation was haltered by Amoss for $100,000 out of a maiden score in November 2023 at Churchill Downs, four starts before her lone previous stakes try when a 7 1/4-length fifth to the victorious Leslie’s Rose in last year’s Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland. She went 0-for-9 last year, with five seconds, but now has won three of her last four starts.
“Every step of the way she was very alert to the horses that were around her. She was going to alert me whenever it was time to go,” Carmouche said.
Flavien Prat, jockey of the Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher-trained Ruth, said the lone sophomore in the field was game in defeat.
“She was traveling well. I thought I was in a good spot, and she gave me a good run,” said Prat.
Bred in Kentucky by Edward Seltzer, Beverly Seltzer and Jamie Frost, Standoutsensation, originally a $50,000 Keeneland September Yearling sale purchase, banked $82,500 in victory while improving her record to 23-5-9-1 and returning $2.92 for a $2 win bet as the post-time favorite.
Live racing resumes Thursday on Opening Day of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack with a nine-race card, featuring the rescheduled Listed $150,000 Tempted in Race 2 and the Listed $150,000 Chelsey Flower in Race 6. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.
