In the Navy Now up in time to win the Nellie Morse Stakes

In the Navy Now (#8) was up in time to win the Nellie Morse Stakes. Photo by Laurie Asseo.

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

R. Larry Johnson and R.D.M. Racing Stable’s In the Navy Now swept into a challenging position on the far outside entering the stretch and outran Sky Flower and Line of Best Fit to the wire and upset the $100,000 Nellie Morse by a neck.

Grade 1-placed stakes winner Line of Best Fit drifted out slightly as In the Navy Now went to inch past in deep stretch but was unable to hold off the 5-year-old Midshipman mare, who finished up in 1:45.61.

Line of Best Fit was second, a half-length ahead of Sky Flower. It was another 2 ¼ lengths back to Tiz Rude in fourth, while 6-5 favorite Julerette finished last in the field of seven after setting the pace.

“I had a lot of horse turning for home and it was just a matter of taking her outside and making a run,” winning jockey Julian Pimentel said.

Julerette coasted through an opening quarter-mile in 25.24 seconds and a half in 50.06, with Tiz Rude in closest pursuit and the bunch of Sky Flower, Indian Paint and Moon Virginia in behind. Pimentel swung In the Navy Now outside to launch his bid and gained ground steadily through the stretch for her first career stakes win.

In the Navy Now now has four wins, eight seconds and three thirds from 18 career starts.

“She’s been very, very consistent for us and doing everything well,” winning trainer Mike Trombetta said. “Today I was quite worried when they went the first quarter so slow that she might not be able to catch up but she was good enough to get to them. She seems to relish this two-turn dirt stuff, so we’ll sit and just wait [for what’s next].”