BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Joseph Imbesi’s homebred Social Fortress nearly repeated her 11-length debut victory by leaving her competition far behind in the $200,000 Sorority at Monmouth Park Saturday. Heavily favored at 2-5, the Florida-bred daughter of Briardale Farm stallion Social Inclusion led from start to finish in defeating six other 2-year-old fillies going one mile in her second career start.
After a delayed start and pre-race scratch of Piggy Tales Up, Social Fortress and jockey Jaime Rodriguez started quick from post five and beat the Todd Pletcher-trained Yellow into the clubhouse turn. Social Fortress increased her lead to four lengths with six furlongs to run and maintained that margin through a half mile in :48.19 while cruising into the second turn.
With little urging from Rodriguez, Social Fortress was five lengths clear at the top of the stretch and finished seven lengths in front of runner-up Yellow in a final time of 1:40.05 on the fast track. Hollywood Beauty was another length back in third followed in order by Vino Limone, Margo’s Margarita, Baytown Butterfly and Entente. Baytown Storm was also scratched.
Trained by Jaime Ness, Social Fortress paid $2.80 to win.
“We don’t a lot about her. That’s two starts and she’s won wire-to-wire twice,” Ness said. “She’s an extremely talented filly. She’s shown that in the morning since day one. My job is to point her in the right direction and it is really nice to have a filly like this in the barn.”
Out of Cold Hearted Pearl, by Parading, Social Fortress overwhelmed her competition in an off-the-turf maiden special weight for fillies at five furlongs at Delaware Park on July 13. Social Fortress has now earned $144,000 in her two races.
Social Fortress is the only starter for the Parading mare Cold Hearted Pearl, who earned $322,979 in 55 career starts with no black type. Cold Hearted Pearl also has a weanling full brother to Social Fortress.
Correction: In a previous version of this story, it was incorrectly reported that Social Fortress was not a registered Florida-bred. We regret the error.
