Lewis Bay handles stretchout in Demoiselle

Lewis Bay became the third graded stakes winner produced by her dam when taking Saturday's $300,000 Demoiselle (G2) at Aqueduct by 1 3/4 lengths as the even-money favorite.

Reared by the Summer Squall mare Summer Raven, herself the winner of the Tempted (G3) at Aqueduct during her racing days, Lewis Bay follows in the hoofsteps of Grade 3-winning half-brothers Misconnect and Winslow Homer.

Saving ground in fourth as Lost Raven led through splits of :24.57 and :50.04, Lewis Bay momentarily lost ground and position around the far turn when shifted outside for running room by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Swinging very wide turning for home, the daughter of Bernardini charged to the lead down the stretch and finished up 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:53.41

Bred in Kentucky by owner Alpha Delta Stable and trained by Chad Brown, Lewis Bay paid $4.10.

"Irad rode her really well," Brown said. "I was concerned on the backside, when they were stacked up outside her, that she would never get out. Irad explained to me afterward he just eased his way back and around everyone. He was forced to go wider than he wanted to, but she really finished good.

"The last sixteenth of a mile, she lost her competition [by] being in front and out in the center of the track. He said she really lost focus, but was just being green. He said she's better with a target, but she passed the two-turn test, at least."

Thrilled, who had run second in a pair of grass stakes, fared best of the three Demoiselle entries from Todd Pletcher. She finished second, one length ahead of 42-1 longshot Disco Rico.

Lewis Bay, second by a half-length in her debut at Belmont September 13, rebounded to break her maiden by six lengths going seven furlongs over the same track last month. She's now earned $240,000 in three outings.

(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)