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Trainer Saeed bin Suroor leads Music Note down Victory Lane after the Beldame.

The first stakes race on Jockey Club Gold Cup day was the $600,000 Beldame Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles around one turn of the main track and a major prep for the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (formerly the Distaff). Just five went to post (4 betting interests), with Music Note sent off as the 1-4 favorite exiting a win in the Ballerina at Saratoga. The two-horse Team Valor entry of Unbridled Belle, 8th in the Personal Ensign last out, and Captain's Lover, exiting a 6th place finish in the Ballston Spa, were sent off as the 5-2 second choice. 13-1 Copper State, winner of the Iowa Distaff last out, and 16-1 With Flying Colors, 6th in the Personal Ensign, completed the field.

Music Note starts to draw away from Unbridled Belle in the stretch

Jockey Ramon Dominguez sent Unbridled Belle to the front exiting the chute and she set a pace of 24.24, 47.99 and 1:11.66 over the officially fast track with Captain's Lover to her outside and Music Note to her inside just a length behind. Entering the stretch, jockey Rajiv Maragh asked Music Note to challenge and she easily took over the lead at the 3/16 pole. Under a hand ride Music Note powered away from the field to win going away by 2 1/4 lengths over Unbridled Belle in 1:48.49. It was a long 9 1/4 lengths back to late-running Copper State third.

Check out the other races on the card: Jockey Club Gold Cup, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, The Vosburgh, and The Flower Bowl Invitational.

# Horse Jockey Win Place Show 2 Music Note Maragh 7.10 2.90 - 1A Unbridled Belle Dominguez 2.10 - 3 Copper State Bridgmohan - Winning Time: 1:48.49 $2 Exacta 3-1 3.70 Results Chart

Left: Music Note in the winner's circle with trainer Saeed bin Suroor holding her. Suroor said, "She was really happy, relaxed, in condition. She showed her good turn of foot. I was waiting for him to take her outside. When he did, I was happy. We'll take her to the Breeders' Cup. Nine furlongs (Ladies Classic) will suit her. She looked better than ever."

Right: Music Note returns after the race. Her jockey Rajiv Maragh said, "I was comfortable because I didn't want to go too early. I wanted to get my filly to relax. Once I was behind the horses, she was getting into a nice, high cruising speed. I was pretty happy. I knew they were going to spread out at some point in the race. Once they did, that's when I made a move to get clear. There was a lot of racetrack left by the time I got open."

Left: Music Note in the post parade.

Right: Music Note in the paddock before the race. Assistant Rick Mettee, leading her here, said, "It was good race riding on the part of the entry's riders. It wasn't unexpected, but luckily she got separation off the turn. This is the fifth Grade 1 for this filly and four of them are here (at Belmont)."

Left: Second place finisher Unbridled Belle returns after the race. Her jockey Ramon Dominguez said, "I had a good trip. My filly was relaxed and the other filly was just much the best." The Todd Pletcher-trained filly improved her record to 7 wins, 4 seconds, and 4 thirds in 23 starts, earning $1,828,328 for owner Team Valor International.

Right: Third place finisher Copper State in the paddock before the race. The 13-1 shot chased the leaders in fourth out wide under new jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, came out further into the stretch and steadily tired late to finish third beaten 11 1/2 lengths. The Steve Asmussen-trained filly improved her record to 5 wins, 6 seconds, and 7 thirds in 26 starts, earning $449,143 for owner Millennium Farms.

Check out the other races on the card: Jockey Club Gold Cup, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, The Vosburgh, and The Flower Bowl Invitational.

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