By Christie DeBernardis
Aurelia Garland (Constitution) ran to the money with a dominant debut victory at Belmont Thursday, becoming the first winner for her Grade-I winning freshman sire (by Tapit) and the newest 'TDN Rising Star'. Hammered down to 3-5 favoritism for Wesley Ward, always red hot with early 2-year-olds, the $185,000 FTSAUG buy raced in third early, but rushed up to challenge the chalk as the opening quarter went up in :22.21. Taking command at the top of the lane, she cruised clear of the field with ease to win by five lengths in :57.51. Talk You Out of It (Overanalyze) got up late for second, while second choice Sweet Melania (American Pharoah) rounded out the trifecta. Purchased as a yearling for $185,000 by Kerri Radcliffe Bloodstock/Arthur Hoyeau at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select sale, Aurelia Garland is produced from the Dixie Union mare Azalea Belle. The filly's second dam is GI Alcibiades S. winner Westerly Breeze. The winner is a half to Diamondsandpearls ( Congrats), a $1.7 million OBS March juvenile in 2017, in addition to Positive Attitude, an unraced Orb filly that realized $310,000 at Fasig-Tipton Select yearling sale the same year. She foaled a filly by Exaggerator in 2018 and was bred back to Nyquist.
1st-Belmont, $92,500, Msw, 5-2, 2yo, f, 5f, :57.51, ft.
AUR
ELIA GARLAND, f, 2, by Constitution&hid=5588">Constitution
1st Dam: Azalea Belle, by Dixie Union
2nd Dam: Westerly Breeze, by Gone West
3rd Dam: On the Brink, by Cox's Ridge
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $50,000. Sales history: $185,000 Ylg '18 FTSAUG. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-George Bolton; B-Todd Frederick, Chad Frederick & Phoenix Farm and Racing (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward.
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