In Lingerie undresses Spinster field – The Courier
October 10, 2012 by admin
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In LIngerie drove to a two-length victory in the Juddmonte Spinster at Keeneland. Coady Photography photos
Sneak preview of tomorrow’s story on Sunday’s G1 Spinster:
LEXINGTON, Ky. – In Lingerie undressed the field in Sunday’s $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster, driving to a two-length victory over Mystical Star to cap a huge weekend for trainer Todd Pletcher.
In Lingerie became the first 3-year-old filly to take the 57-year-old Spinster since Pletcher also won with the 3-year-old Panty Raid in 2007. Like Panty Raid, In Lingerie has proven adept on both dirt and synthetic. In fact, she’s now 3 for 3 over Polytrack, having broken her maiden (after which she was sold) and won the Grade III Bourbonette at Turfway.
She’s not bad on dirt either, winning Pimlico’s Grade II Black-Eyed Susan and subsequently taking third in Saratoga’s Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks and second in the Alabama – both won by Questing.
“She ran very well at Saratoga against the best 3-year-old fillies in the country, and we knew she liked the Polytrack,� said Pletcher, who won two Grade I races at Belmont Saturday with 2-year-olds and passed the late Bobby Frankel as No. 2 on the sport’s all-time earnings list. “We were just hoping that she’d transfer that form from Turfway early on. We knew she was training well, so we were optimistic.�
Aron Wellman, whose Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners owns In Lingerie with Gary Barber, said the season objective was to get a Grade I victory on her record, so they haven’t thought much beyond the Spinster.
The Spinster is a “Win and You’re In� challenge race for the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, with In Lingerie’s entry fees waived and a $10,000 travel allowance provided. But Wellman and Pletcher said they will consider trying her on turf for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Filly Mare Turf, for which her entry fees also would be waived.
“The filly division (on dirt) is just insanely deep right now,� Wellman said. “And not that we’re necessarily scared of any of them. (But) with her pedigree and the fact she obviously has really shown an affinity for the Polytrack, it’s something to think about. I’m happy to be in the position where we have options.�
Jockey John Velazquez had In Lingerie in stalking position while Juanita set a modest pace with Starformer and Keeneland’s Ashland winner Karlovy Vary applying the closest pressure.
“I could tell she was traveling really well down the backside, just kind of hoping for a place to go,� Pletcher said. “It looked like Johnny was just biding his time looking for a seam, and she responded really well when he found it.�
Velazquez angled In Lingerie to the outside in the stretch, moving with Mystical Star before pulling away late to cover 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.42.
“Once I got out at the sixteenth pole and she was in the clear, she responded right away,� he said. “I’m very proud of her.�
In Lingerie, a bay daughter of 2003 Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, now is 4-2-1 in seven starts, earning $712,265. She paid $6.80 to win as the favorite over 2011 Spinster winner Aruna, who acted up in the gate, never really got untracked and finished sixth in the field of 10.
“I had a great trip,� said Aruna’s jockey, Ramon Dominguez. “But unfortunately turning for home, when I finally got through and was able to get to the outside, she didn’t have a big kick today.�
Mystical Star and Jose Lezcano took second by 2-1/4 lengths over Upperline, who edged the Juddmonte-owned Starformer.
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In Lingerie wins Spinster Stakes
October 10, 2012 by admin
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)
In Lingerie won the Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster on Sunday at Keeneland to cap a big weekend for leading trainer Todd Pletcher.
TURN FOR HOME
Racing season is already in the stretch drive. View photos.
Pletcher won two Grade 1 races Saturday at Belmont, with Dreaming of Julia taking the Frizette and Shanghai Bobby the Champagne Stakes. Pletcher’s e Bridgetown also won the Grade 3 Woodford at Keeneland on Saturday.
Ridden by John Velazquez, In Lingerie bided her time along the rail on the backstretch before angling out for running room in the final furlong and powering home to a two-length victory over Mystical Star.
”She had a perfect trip,” said Velazquez, who also rode Dreaming of Julia in the Frizette. ”Once I got out at the 16th pole and she was in the clear, she responded right away. I’m very proud of her.”
In Lingerie ran 1-1/8 miles in 1 minute, 49.42 seconds to become the first 3-year-old to win the Spinster — Keeneland’s premier event on the main track for fillies and mares — since Pletcher’s Panty Raid in 2007.
The $300,000 winner’s share of the $500,000 purse pushed her lifetime bankroll to $712,265 with a record of 4-2-1 in seven starts. The victory earned her an automatic spot in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, set for Nov. 2 at Santa Anita, but Pletcher said he might consider other options for the daughter of Empire Maker who is undefeated in three starts on a synthetic surface.
”I’d say she’s the kind you could look at a couple of different races with,” Pletcher said.
In Lingerie paid $6.80 for a $2 win bet. Upperline finished third. Aruna, last year’s winner, was sixth.
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Balance the Books rallied late to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Bourbon Stakes by a nose over Really Sharp, who was disqualified to sixth for interference in the stretch.
Balance the Books paid $3.80. Brown Almighty was elevated to second, and Sonofasamurai became the official third-place finisher.
Ridden by Julien Leparoux and trained by Chad Brown, Balance the Books ran 1-1/16 miles on the turf in 1:45.15. His second victory in three career starts earned a guaranteed berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.
”This horse is getting bigger and stronger, and it’s on to the Breeders’ Cup,” Brown said.