Alydiva gets first stakes victory in Likely Exchange

Alydiva made her stakes debut a winning one, getting a perfect trip under Chris Landeros to take the $100,000 Likely Exchange Stakes for fillies and mares Saturday night at Turfway Park.

Alydiva, a 4-year-old Quality Road filly, races as a homebred for Tracy Farmer and is trained by Mark Casse. The filly was coming off an allowance win in December at Turfway that made her the favorite for the Likely Exchange.

Alydiva ($8.60) and Landeros tucked in on the inside to sit a comfortable stalking trip in fourth early behind the leaders. Fate Factor, who broke from the rail, was leading the field through an unhurried opening quarter of 24.95 seconds and a half in 49.21 while under only moderate pressure from Say Hey, who had broken next door to her in post 2. Meanwhile, stakes winner Rogue Too, who had figured as a prominent pace factor, had broken poorly and encountered further trouble while steadied on the backstretch.

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Fate Factor emerged with a length lead at the quarter pole as Say Hey stopped. But Alydiva responded strongly when roused by Landeros and rallied through the lane. She collared the leader in midstretch and drew clear to finish 1 1/4 lengths in front. She finished the mile on the Tapeta in 1:38.57.

Fate Factor easily held sway over the rest of the field, finishing 3 1/2 lengths clear in second. Rogue Too rallied well to secure third by a neck after her poor trip.