BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Ground Support and jockey Adam Beschizza saved ground behind leader Paris Carver around the turn then found a seam at the top of the stretch to hit the front and pull away to a commanding victory in the $200,000 Glen Cove (Grade 3) at Belmont Park Sunday. It was the second career graded stakes victory for Ground Support, who defeated seven other 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on grass.
Ground Support also earned a $5,000 Export Incentive with the out-of-state victory at this level for breeder Michael Sucher’s Champion Equine based in Delray Beach, Florida. The Export Incentive is paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Ground Support broke on top from post three and raced just off Paris Carver through a fast quarter mile in :22.01 then dropped in behind the leader into the turn as Spirit Doll edged into second on the outside. Paris Carver was still a half-length in front through a half-mile in :44.41 when Beschizza sent Ground Support to the front from between horses and kicked clear in the run for home. Ground Support finished up in 1:20.22 on the firm turf, three-and-three-quarters lengths ahead of Snappy Comeback in second. New Rose was three-quarters of a length farther back in third followed in order by Emblaze, Peppermint Twist, Brandy and Me, Paris Carver and Spirit Doll. Beach Heist and Light Won Up were scratched.
Ground Support paid $6.32 to win.
Trained by Kelsey Danner for NBS Stable, Ground Support won for the first time in four starts this year, coming off a third-place finish to Somerset West in the Grade 2 Ainsworth Music City going six-and-a-half furlongs on the turf at Kentucky Downs on September 5. She was fifth in two previous races this year, finishing less than three lengths off winner Sumerset West in the Grade 2 San Clement at Del Mar on July 18 and seven-and-a-quarter lengths behind Tam Tam in the $258,000 Tepin (Listed) at Churchill Downs on June 27.
The Tepin was her first race since finishing third the one-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) won by Balantina (Ire) at Del Mar on October 31 of last year. That came after winning the mile-and-one-sixteenth Miss Grillo (G2) on the turf during the Belmont at Big A meet at Aqueduct 27 days earlier.
Ground Support broke her maiden at odds of 100-1 at Kentucky Downs going a mile on grass in August of last year.
Ground Support picked up $110,000 in the Glen Cove, pushing her lifetime revenue to $441,537 from three wins and two thirds in seven starts.
Ground Support is by Army Mule out of Arch Support, by Arch and was an $80,000 selection by NBS Stables/John Ballantyne out of Tom McCrocklin’s consignment at last year Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Arch Support, who was second in the 2010 Miss Grillo (G3), has produced six winners from seven starters and eight foals with Ground Support her only stakes winner. Arch Support is a half-sister to stakes-placed Witchesofwestfield and graded stakes-producer Breaking Promises.
