North Slope on top in Bowl Game Stakes

Four-year-old North Slope, by Elusive Quality, saved the best for last October 19 in the Bowl Game Stakes at Belmont Park to come away with a win in the final strides. In the one-and-one-quarter-mile turf race North Slope stalked pacesetter Micromanage (Medaglia d'Oro) on the outside in second. Turning for home North Pole battled in the stretch for a well-fought victory, with Micromanage third.

It was the second win in a row for North Slope, who placed in the G3 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes as a three-year-old. A homebred for Darley, North Slope is out of Stakes-placed mare Jinni, a daughter of Champion and multiple G1 winner Ajina.

Elusive Quality is the sire of 38 Graded or Group winners around the world lifetime. Among them are Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones, Australian Champion Sepoy, G1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass, and multiple G1-winning filly Elusive Kate. Top runners for the sire this year include G3 La Jolla Handicap winner Enterprising and multiple Group-winning-filly Shuruq.