2009 Ruffian Handicap and Garden City Stakes

By Cindy Pierson Dulay, About.com Guide

The $300,000 Garden City Stakes (G1) featured a field of eight 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf course. Gozzip Girl was sent off as the 2-5 favorite off two straight wins, in the Sands Point at Belmont and the American Oaks at Hollywood. In to challenge her included 6-1 second choice Pull Dancer, winner of an allowance at Saratoga after finishing a close second in the Alywow at Woodbine, and 8-1 third choice Shared Account, winner of the Lake Placid after finishing a close second in the Virginia Oaks.

Shared Account was hustled to the lead first time past the finish by jockey Ramon Dominguez, with Keertana stalking her in second. Gozzip Girl was down on the rail close to the pace in the first 1/4 mile but she was bumped badly on the clubhouse turn, almost unseating jockey Kent Desormeaux, causing her to lose momentum and get shuffled back to sixth. Shared Account set very slow fractions of 26.24, 52.36, and 1:17.83. Entering the stretch, Shared Account continued to lead, but Miss World, seventh early, came out 4 wide and closed down the center of the course to pass the tiring pacesetters inside the 1/8 pole. Miss World drew away to win by 1 3/4 lengths at the line in 1:53.55 over the soft course. It was 2 lengths back to Keertana third, and another 1 1/2 lengths back to favorite Gozzip Girl fourth.

Results chart