Recruited by trainer Christophe Clement in France this summer, Les Reys was sensational in her U.S. debut on Friday, charging through the stretch to win the $150,000 Winter Memories Stakes at Belmont at the Big A.

The 3-year-old filly knifed through traffic for jockey Joel Rosario in mid-stretch and kept surging to prevail by a half-length.

“She was impressive today,” Christophe said. “She came from five or six [lengths] out of it today. She came up the inside and finished well. She had been working with all the better horses in the morning on grass and working well.”

“She was able to come and win the race with a good turn of foot from her,” Rosario said. “I was just thinking, following that one horse in front of me who kind of slowed down turning inside, came closer to me, so I just had to not ride and let her do her thing. It worked out. She handled everything.”

Christophe and his brother Nicolas, a trainer in France, were duly impressed by Les Reys’ turn of foot in her previous start on June 9 at ParisLongchamp when she circled the field to win the Prix Volterra. The Clements brokered a private deal for West Point, Peter Leidel and Heather Winters to acquire her and move her to Christophe’s barn in New York.

Winter Memories Replay:

Fox Sports Interview with West Point’s Tom Bellhouse and Heather Winters in the Winner’s Circle

NYRA: Les Reys Reigns Supreme in Winter Memories