Close Victory for Rutherienne at Calder

She claimed two starts last season at Calder Race Course, and Rutherienne was back for another. (AP Images)

Calder’s Grand Slam III day proved to be sweet for the 3 year old filly as she secured the win in the $100,000 Frances A. Genter Stakes on Saturday, December 29. Rutherienne won by a neck over two dead-heated fillies, Sweet Ransom and Pretoria Light.  

With Rutherienne and jockey Rene Douglas sitting sixth in the back stretch for the first half mile, Beautiful Venue and Pretoria Light set the pace until they started to wear down. With every stride, Rutherienne pushed her way up hard, fighting off Sweet Ransom at the sixteenth pole and poked her nose out in front for the victory.

After covering 7 ½ furlongs over firm turf, Rutherienne paid $4.60, $2.80 and $2.60 for the win. Sweet Ransom returned $2.60 and $3.00 and Pretoria Light was $5.20 and $6.40.  

Rutherienne, the daughter of 1997 Kentucky Derby contender Pulpit, is trained by Christophe Clement who picked up his second graded stakes win of the day at Calder when just one race earlier Bayou’s Lassie claimed the Stage Door Betty Handicap (gr. III).

Clement said Rutherienne won despite still not at her best. “The way the course was playing (speed), Rene put her a little closer to the pace than she usually is, which might have taken a little off her closing kick, but she got the job done.”

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