NEW YORK -- Fortunate Damsel took the lead at the start and held off favorite Venturi by a head to win the Pebbles Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park on Monday.
Venturi lacked running room while pinned down on the rail, then shook loose in midstretch and just missed catching the winner in the Grade 3 race. Delta Sensation was third, another length back, in the field of eight.
The win was the fourth in 11 starts this year for Fortunate Damsel and her first is stakes company
Fortunate Damsel covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48 4/5 over the firm turf to earn $60,000 for Spruce Pond Stable. Fortunate Damsel returned $15, $4.40 and $3.70. Venturi paid $2.80 and $2.60 and Delta Sensation was $5.80.
