NEW YORK -- Lady Tak took control on the turn for home and beat Molto Vita by two lengths Sunday in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park.
Ridden by John Velazquez, Lady Tak covered the 6½ furlongs in 1:16.04 and paid $3.60, $2.70 and $2.30. The 4-year-old, coming off a win in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga on Aug. 29, won for the fourth time in six starts for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Molto Vita returned $6.40 and $5.40, and Zawzooth paid $5 to show.
"I couldn't ask for a better trip," Velazquez said. "I was just a passenger."
Scott Blasi, Asmussen's New York-based assistant, was uncertain about Lady Tak's next start. But if it is the Breeders' Cup, the filly could be a surprise entry in the BC Sprint rather than the 1 1/8-mile BC Distaff. Lady Tak hasn't run longer than seven furlongs this year.
Lady Tak, a winner in 10 of 17 lifetime starts, boosted her career earnings to $1,109,602.
