Riposte Wins Sheepshead Bay Stakes at Belmont Park

Riposte Wins Sheepshead Bay Stakes at Belmont Park: Earning her first North American win, Great Britain’s Riposte won the G2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes with jockey Joel Rosario at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York on Saturday, May 24, 2014 for trainer Bill Mott and Juddmonte Farm.

The four-year-old filly broke clean from the Belmont Park starting gate and completed the 2014 Sheepshead Bay Stakes in 2:18.86. Riposte was said to be very comfortable on the 1 3/8 miles turf in the final stretch.

Trainer Bill Mott commented that the Sheepshead Bay Stakes distance was great for Riposte saying, “The first two times she ran in the United States we were going nine furlongs and the fractions were very, very slow. She found it hard to close into those fractions. I think her being on the lead was just the way the race came up. I thought Irish Mission would show more speed, but the pace didn’t really develop.”

Mott added, “We’ve got a shot for some of the longer races. She ran in some very important races over in Europe. She won the Ribblesdale, which is a very good prep race, and she wasn’t beaten much in the other races.”

Jockey Joel Rosario led Riposte across the Sheepshead Bay finish line first and said, “There wasn’t a lot of speed, and going a mile and three eighths and with how the track is I wanted to get in position, and she was in front. I just tried to take my time with her and try to go all the way.”

After the 2014 Sheepshead Bay Stakes victory, Riposte has earned a total of $340,968.

Sheepshead Bay Stakes 2014 Results & Payouts:
2 Riposte and Joel Rosario $7.20 to Win, $3.80 to Place, $2.60 to Show
6 Abaco and John R. Velazquez $3.70 to Place, $2.40 to Show
7 Irish Mission and Alex O. Solis $3.00 to Show
Also ran: 3 – Fitful Skies, 9 – Caroline Thomas , 8 – Modernstone
Scratched horses: Viva Rafaela, Lady Cohiba, Flash Forward, Belle Gallantey

Sheepshead Bay Stakes 2014 Replay: