American Royale Charges to Victory at Belmont Park

American Royale, ridden by Jose Santos, revealed a new dimension in her running style by coming from behind for the first time in her career to beat Debra’s Victory by a neck in stakes-record time in the $113,800 Prioress Stakes at Belmont Park.

American Royale went six furlongs in 1:09 1/5, one-fifth of a second better than the clocking by Ta Wee in 1969 and Token Dance in 1990.

Debra’s Victory was 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Preach in the field of six 3-year-old fillies.

American Royale’s third win in four starts this year and sixth in seven career races was worth $68,680 for owner Will Farish. The winner returned $7.80, $3 and $2.60. Debra’s Victory paid $2.80 and $2.40 and Preach was worth $3.

Plate Dancer, with Earlie Fires in the saddle, won the Stars and Stripes Handicap by a neck at Arlington International Racecourse in Chicago.

Plate Dancer passed Little Bro Lantis late in the stretch for his first victory in a graded stakes. Little Bro Lantis held on for second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Stark South.

Northern Hal, the 3-5 favorite, finished last in the field of nine.

The final time for the 1 3/16-mile turf race for older horses was 1:55.

It was the 11th win in 48 lifetime starts for Plate Dancer, who boosted his lifetime earnings to $433,721. Plate Dancer returned $8, $4.60 and $3.60. Little Bro Lantis paid $7.40 and $4.80, while Stark South returned $6.20 to show.