Favorites Fortified Effort and Foggia come through in ATBA Sales Stakes
PHOENIX – Fortified Effort dominated Saturday’s $91,837 colts-and-geldings division of the ATBA Fall Sales Stakes at Turf Paradise, and Foggia won the $93,853 fillies division. Both races were at six furlongs and for horses who were consigned to the 2016 ATBA fall sale.
Heavily favored off his easy win in his trial last month, Fortified Effort stalked as John Arnold and Oh Brother Jack dueled for the lead. He made a smart move to reach contention by the far turn, took the lead, and drew off to win by four lengths. Oh Brother Jack stayed on for second, well clear of Superb Moment, who rallied for third in the field of 12.
Fortified Effort ran the distance in 1:10.52 and paid $4 to win. Owned by Lloyd Yother, Kevin Eikleberry, William Matthews and Marvin Fleming and trained by Eikleberry, Fortified Effort earned $54,632, which gives him a bankroll of $102,071. He has three wins in six starts.
Foggia made it a clean sweep for the favorites in the fillies division of the ATBA Fall Sales Stakes.
Owned by the Sawyer Cattle Company and trained by Dan McFarlane, Foggia went right to the lead and set fast splits of 21.89 and 44.56, with Myrcella in pursuit. Foggia drew off to win by 3 1/2 lengths under Jake Barton. Littlesisterdon’tu rallied from midpack to finish second, 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Myrcella, who tired to third in the field of 10.
Foggia, a daughter of Rocky Bar, ran the distance in 1:09.62 and paid $5.80 to win. She's won both career starts. The winner’s share of $54,358 gives her earnings of $61,952.