Recepta continues ascension in distaff turf ranks, earns first graded win in Noble Damsel

After dropping all three starts in 2014, Recepta didn’t enter her four-year-old campaign with lofty expectations. The Jimmy Toner-trained filly pocketed her first stakes victory since her juvenile season when capturing the restricted De La Rose at Saratoga on August 8 and carried her improving form forward in Saturday’s $200,000 Noble Damsel (G3) at Belmont Park, earning her first graded tally with a game half-length decision.

Elvis Trujillo was up on the dark bay daughter of Speightstown and Recepta completed a mile on the firm Widener turf in 1:33.32. She rated about five lengths behind in midpack as longshot Miss Frost sped forward and showed the way on a short lead through opening fractions in :23.28 and :46.31.

Recepta accelerated into contention rounding the far turn as the field began to bunch up entering the stretch and launched her bid for the lead after six furlongs in 1:10.10, assuming command with about an eighth of a mile remaining.

Lady Lara rallied to be a menacing presence on the outside in deep stretch, but Recepta dug in gamely to prevail as the 6-1 fifth choice among nine females.

Lady Lara, the 5-2 second choice, held second by a half-length over the rallying Crowley’s Law at 5-1. It was another three parts of a length to 2-1 favorite Coffee Clique in fourth, and Baffle Me, Marbre Rose, Devilish Love, Miss Frost and Tuttipaesi completed the order of finish.

Owned by Phillips Racing Partnership and Pam Gartin, Recepta sold for $410,000 as a 2012 Keeneland September yearly and has now earned $381,200 from an 11-5-0-3 record. With a preference for distances between a mile and nine furlongs, Recepta looks poised to make a serious impact in the turf distaff ranks if she continues to move forward off Saturday’s highly-encouraging performance.

Bred in Kentucky by John Phillips and Hank Snowden, the filly is out of the winning Honor Grades mare Honor Bestowed and counts Grade 3 winner Taqarub as a half-brother. Her dam is a half-sister to champion turf mare Soaring Softly and Grade 1 turf winner Plenty of Grace.

Noble Damsel quotes:

Jimmy Toner, winning trainer of Recepta: "I think the key to her development this year is more maturity than anything. She was kind of washy and sort of flighty last year and couldn't take too much. We gave her the winter off and brought her back in the spring, and she's taken every step that we've wanted her to take. I was a little disappointed with her race in Monmouth, but what are you going to do? Since that time, she's responded to everything we've done. We'll probably come back in the Athenia (Grade 3, October 17, Belmont Park). We mapped out a plan for her early on: the De La Rose, which was restricted - worked out perfect. Wanted to get a graded stake - worked out perfect. She'll have two more starts this year, and if she comes back next year bigger and stronger I think she can develop into something special."

Elvis Trujillo, winning jockey aboard Recepta: "I had a perfect trip. Three or four horses went to the lead. At the three-eighths pole they started to stop and the horses next to me started putting pressure on them. When I turned for home, I asked her and she was gone. She's a very nice horse."

Recepta photo courtesy of Adam Coglianese Photography