It hasn’t taken Sigh No More long to adapt to grass racing in the United States.

The Irish-bred daughter of Australian sire Starspangledbanner used a last-to-first move, closing stoutly along the rail, on the way to a 1½-length victory in Sunday’s $102,000 Boiling Springs Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Monmouth Park.

Making just her second start in North America, after finishing fourth in her U.S. debut in the one-mile Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico on May 16, Sigh No More flashed the same strong closing kick that enabled her to win a Grade 3 race in her last start in Ireland back on Oct. 19.

The winning time for the mile and a sixteenth over a turf course listed as firm was 1:42.32.

“A little more distance helped her,” said winning trainer Brendan Walsh. “It’s a big change coming from Ireland to here. She is just starting to grasp things. Her works have improved immensely since the race at Pimlico (the Hilltop Stakes on May 16) so I was quite confident about today.”

In the co-featured $100,000 Maryfield Stakes, Not Too Late emerged from an early three-horse duel to give jockey Sonny Leon his 1,000^th career win with a neck victory in the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies.

This is Leon’s first summer riding at Monmouth Park.

Sigh No More, now with four wins from eight career starts, was well back in last in the seven horse field through early fractions :47.48 through the opening half and 1:11.85 for six furlongs set by longshot Hidden Quarry.

Jockey Axel Concepcion never gave up his rail position, however, and found a seam along the fence coming out of the final turn as Sigh No More built momentum. She split horses late and out-finished runner-up Pretty Lavish, third-place Hidden Quarry and Notable Exchange.

“I wasn’t too concerned that she was last for as long as she was,” said Walsh. “Axel was saving all the ground. These horses that come from Ireland, they don’t win a Grade 3 race like she did for nothing. They’ve got that talent. She’ll be a better filly too as the races start to stretch out and the year goes on.”

Concepcion said his filly was traveling well enough that he was willing to bide his time until it was time to go.

“I really wasn’t concerned about being last for so long,” said Concepcion. “She put me there. I didn’t ask her at all and she put me right there. And at that point I feel I have a lot of work to do, so she helped me a lot by relaxing and saving ground.

“The added distance helped a lot. Last time she ran one mile and she finished running. So second time out in the U.S. with a race behind her, I knew she would improve.”

Sigh No More returned $12.80 to win, with even-money favorite Growth Trajectory never a serious threat in her second career start.

Walsh anticipates a promising final half of the racing season for Sigh No More.

“We liked her all winter,” he said. “She was working great in Florida. Sometimes they have to learn how to quicken. Axel (Concepcion) gave her a great ride today when he saved all the ground. He knows that track obviously.

“It all came together for us, so it’s great. I’m delighted for owner Scott Heider. He’s a big supporter of mine. Hopefully she can go on to bigger and better things as the year goes on.”

Not Too Late, the second-longest shot (at 8-1) in the five-horse field, was right there with Beyond Belief and Volleyballprincess through early fractions of :21.93 and :44.73 to the half before Leon made a three-wide move entering the final turn.

She survived the deep stretch threat of Volleyball Princess, with Beyond Belief another 2¾ lengths back in third.

Seventh in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes in her last start, Not Too Late ended an eight-race losing streak. The daughter of McKinzie has now won three races from 13 career starts.

“I had a perfect trip,” said Leon. “She was getting out a little in the stretch but she was all heart today. I did what I could to get her in the right position and she did the rest.

“It’s a special day (winning career race No. 1,000), especially in a stakes race. It’s great. Great things have happened to me. I feel very fortunate.”