And the winner is...Red Carpet Ready in the Eight Belles
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Red Carpet Ready rebounded from her lone career defeat to hand Munnys Gold her first loss, outlasting her by a head in Friday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Under jockey Luis Saez, Red Carpet Ready went after Munnys Gold around the far turn, opened up a 1 1/2-length lead in midstretch then had just enough to hold off a resurgent Munnys Gold to the wire. It was 1 3/4 lengths back to Accede in third.
The victory was the fourth in five starts for Red Carpet Ready, her third in as many starts at Churchill Downs. She won Grade 3 Forward Gal at Gulfstream in February before finishing third as the even-money choice in the Grade 2 Davona Dale on March 4.
Munnys Gold was sent off the 2-5 favorite based on winning her first three starts by a combined 38 lengths.
Despite her 3 for 4 record, Red Carpet Ready was sent off at 5-1. She returned $13.44 to win.
“We’re pretty good too,” Rusty Arnold, trainer of Red Carpet Ready said. “We thought we had a shot. I know [Munnys Gold] is good, but our filly’s good. You take one race out and we’re not that far off her.”
Saez said it was definitely the plan for Red Carpet Ready to be in close proximity of Munnys Gold, who, under Irad Ortiz Jr., broke alertly and set fractions of 22.67 seconds and 45.11 for the half-mile. After passing Munnys Gold in midstretch, Saez thought he was going to win easier than Red Carpet Ready did.
“I thought I was going to open up, but she wait a little bit,” Saez said. “When she was alone, she kind of got a little lost. When she felt the other one come back she took off again.”
Red Carpet Ready, a daughter of Oscar Performance owned by Ashbrook Farm and Upland Flats Racing, covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.28.
Ortiz kept Munnys Gold in the middle of the track down the backside then moved over and tried to spurt away on the turn but was unsuccessful.
“I tried to run away from her, but I couldn’t, then she came back at the end,” Ortiz said. “My filly was game.”
Munnys Gold finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Accede. Condensation finished fourth followed by Olivia Twist, Sabra Tuff, and Grand Love. Effortlesslyelgant and Positano Sunset scratched.
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