AN EXCEPTIONAL RESULT FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL FILLY
Sightseek, a daughter of Distant View, finished her career with,
as Belmont Park track announcer Tom Durkin described it, a
“routinely brilliant victory, waltzing off to a 2 ¾-length repeat
victory in the Gr.1 Beldame Stakes.
In the post-race interview her trainer, Bobby Frankel, could not
hold back his tears. “This is definitely the best mare I’ve trained
on dirt. The Eclipse Award is up to the voters. She beat Azeri by
11 lengths and Azeri beat her by a length and a half. I worried
about her. She’s going home safely. I wanted her to win and go out
on top.”
Made the 3-5 favorite, Sightseek gave the Belmont Park fans the
show they expected. She set a pace of :24 4/5; :48 2/5; 1:12 4/5
under Castellano who wrapped up and eased her home in 1:49 3/5.
Last year, she won the Beldame in 1:49 1/5. Finishing second was
multiple Gr.1 winner Society Selection and the Eclipse Champion
two-year-old Storm Flag Flying finished third.
Sightseek won 12 of 20 career starts and has over $2.4 million
in career earnings, along with seven Grade 1
victories.
Date:
12 October 2004