Amy's Challenge goes out a winner in McConnell Springs, the last of four non-Breeders' Cup stakes
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Prior to the five Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-olds, a busy slate of undercard stakes were run Friday at Keeneland over a fast main track and a turf course rated “good.” Here are quick recaps of the first four preliminary events:
Amy’s Challenge ($7.80) in McConnell Springs
Amy’s Challenge ended a distinguished racing career by winning the $150,000 McConnell Springs, getting the six-furlong distance in 1:09.17 after being sent to the early lead by Jose Lezcano.
Trainer Mac Robertson said afterward that Amy’s Challenge ($7.80), who defeated eight other filly-mare sprinters as the lukewarm favorite, has run her last race. Owned by Joe Novogratz, the 5-year-old daughter of Artie Schiller retires with eight wins from 19 starts and $647,273 in earnings.
“I’ve always been proud of her,” said Robertson. “It’s always hard to see a good horse leave, but I’m happy for her and Mr. Novogratz.”
Unique Factor finished second, 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner and a head before Unholy Alliance.
Ever Dangerous in 74-1 upset
Dismissed at 74-1, even with Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano up, Ever Dangerous was along in time for a huge upset of the $150,000 Bryan Station, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.
Ever Dangerous ($150.60), a last-out allowance winner over the Belmont Park turf, broke from the outside post in a full gate of 14 after drawing in off the also-eligibles list. The Kitten’s Joy colt tripped out nicely before finally pushing past a pair of dueling front-runners, Fancy Liquor and Don Juan Kitten, in the last 70 yards to win by a half-length. He was timed in 1:48.74.
Fancy Liquor bested Don Juan Kitten for second by a half-length.
George Weaver trains Ever Dangerous for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Randy Hill. Weaver had to scratch his stable star, Vekoma, as the morning-line favorite out of the BC Sprint on Saturday.
Joy’s Rocket ($19) wins Songbird
After finishing a distant fourth in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park last month, Joy’s Rocket clearly benefited from the class relief and a turn-back in distance when leading all the way in the $125,000 Songbird at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard Joy’s Rocket for trainer Steve Asmussen and owners Team Hanley and Parkland Thoroughbreds. The daughter of Anthony’s Cross finished in 1:16.18 with her third victory from five starts.
Farsighted did most of the chasing when settling for second, three lengths behind the winner from a full gate of 2-year-old fillies. Roc’s Princess was third at 70-1.
No starter in the Songbird nor its earlier colt-and-gelding counterpart, the Nyquist, was treated with Lasix.
Highly Motivated ($7.20) in Nyquist
Always in a prime stalking spot while saving ground, Highly Motivated powered home under Javier Castellano in winning the 11:30 a.m. Eastern opener by 4 1/4 lengths.
Trained by Chad Brown for Klaravich Stables, Highly Motivated prevailed as the slight favorite in a field of eight 2-year-olds, returning $7.20 after finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.99. Quick Tempo was second, another three-quarters of a length before Roderick.
Highly Motivated, a bay colt by the red-hot sire Into Mischief, was coming off a late-September maiden win at Belmont Park.