All-Pletcher exacta on Pimlico turf

Trainer Todd Pletcher accounted for both parts of the exacta with his uncoupled entry of Ebony Rose and Its Just a Dream in Saturday's $82,250 Hilltop Breeders' Cup at Pimlico.

Ebony Rose ($6.20), second choice in a field of six 3-year-old fillies, earned her first stakes victory and third career win in six starts with a powerful move in midstretch to run down pacesetter Saoirse Cat, the even-money favorite.

Its Just a Dream rallied belatedly down the middle of the turf course to get second, 1 1/4 lengths behind her stablemate.

Saoirse Cat ran a similar race to her previous start in the Appalachian at Keeneland, leading most of the way before fading late to finish off the board. Ridden by Ramon Dominguez for trainer Bill Mott, Saoirse Cat was unable to carry her speed over a course rated "good" despite setting soft fractions of 49.70 seconds for a half-mile and 1:15.75 for six furlongs. She finished fourth, 1 1/2 lengths behind third-place Art Show.

Ebony Rose's rider, Chris DeCarlo, said, "I knew I had Art Show inside me, and I could see Ramon on his horse was kind of struggling."

Ebony Rose, racing for the first time since winning a first-level allowance at Gulfstream Park in late March, covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:49.72.

The all-Pletcher exacta paid $28.60 for a $2 ticket.