SIGHTSEEK TRIUMPHS IN PHIPPS H

Sightseek triumphed by an impressive five lengths over a sloppy track at Belmont Park in the Gr.1 Ogden Phipps Handicap. A daughter of Distant View out of the Nureyev mare Viviana, Sightseek won her second Grade 1 race, following her victory in the Humana Distaff Handicap at Churchill Downs on May 3. The filly has won her last two starts by a total of nine lengths.

As easy as Sightseek made her latest effort look, she did not inspire confidence from trainer Bobby Frankel. “I didn’t think she was handling the track,” Frankel said. “It didn’t look like she was on the bridle, and it looked like [jockey Jerry Bailey] was riding her all the way. Even when Sightseek came outside of Take Charge Lady, I thought Take Charge Lady might still pull away. Sightseek is a great filly.”

But, in fact, Bailey had Sightseek nice and relaxed while stalking the pacesetting Take Charge Lady, who had taken the lead out of the gate. Instead of letting Take Charge Lady set the pace at her leisure, Bailey had Sightseek stay right with her along the outside through a quarter-mile in :22.52 and a half-mile in :45.3.

“I wanted to leave there running,” Bailey said. “I wanted to make Take Charge Lady use her speed and run faster early. I also wanted to spread the field out.”

Coming off the final turn, Take Charge Lady could no longer withstand the pressure on the front end and Sightseek began to kick clear at the top of the stretch. She continued to draw off under mild urging from Bailey, covering the distance in 1:40.89.

“The biggest question was the mud, but she is a classy horse and horses like her will run over anything,” Bailey said.

Fellow Grade 1 winner Mandy’s Gold was third, five lengths behind Take Charge Lady.

Sightseek has six wins and four seconds from 10 starts and has earned $719,866.

Date: 26 June 2003