Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - Trainer Bobby Frankel established a new North American record for Grade 1 stakes wins in a year on Saturday with Sightseek"s victory in the Beldame at Belmont Park. The win in New York for Frankel gave him 23 Grade 1 wins this year, breaking the mark held by D. Wayne Lukas. Lukas captured 22 top-shelf stakes races in 1987. Sightseek cruised to a five-length win in the Beldame for her fourth straight victory. Jockey Jerry Bailey kept the four-year-old filly within striking distance of the leaders in the 1 1/8 mile race. Heading into the final turn Sightseek advanced from the outside to collar the front-running Bird Town. Down the stretch Sightseek left her rivals far behind. Bird Town finished second with Buy The Sport third and Smok"n Frolic fourth in the seven-horse field. The time for the Beldame was 1:49.27. Sightseek is owned by Juddmonte Farms. She added $450,000 to her earnings, which now total more than $1.3 million in her career and better than $1 million in 2003. This year she has won four of seven starts and eight of 12 lifetime. With last week"s loss by Azeri in California, Sightseek will go for division honors in the Breeders" Cup Distaff at Santa Anita on October 25. Sightseek returned $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10. Bird Town paid $4.00 and $2.10, and Buy The Sport paid $2.10 for show.
