I'm Already Sexy provides Lopez with fifth win of card in Eatontown

Jockey Paco Lopez and the turf mare I’m Already Sexy apparently get along very well together.

Lopez, reunited with the 5-year-old I’m Already Sexy for the first time since they teamed up to win the Cooper City Handicap at Gulfstream Park in February, helped the mare upset 8-5 favorite Kenzadargent in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Eatontown Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Lopez used similar stalking tactics that produced I’m Already Sexy’s head victory in the Cooper City in the 1 1/16-mile Eatontown to collect his fifth win on the card. In contrast to her most recent outing, in which I’m Already Sexy led all the way, only to lose by a head in the Grade 3 Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill Downs three weeks ago, this time she sat fourth for the first half-mile, 3 1/2 lengths off the pace. She was third, but only a half-length back, after six furlongs in 1:11.12.

Lopez asked I’m Already Sexy to launch a three-wide bid on the final turn and she took a narrow lead. In the stretch, I’m Already Sexy was challenged by Kenzadargent, winner of the Miss Liberty in late May. She charged up the inside under Abel Castellano Jr. to get on even terms inside the sixteenth pole, but I’m Already Sexy dug down and prevailed by a half-length. Kenzadargent finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Stellar Path.

“I had a perfect trip,” Lopez said. “I was sitting perfectly with her and when we hit the top of the stretch she grabbed the lead. I knew I had the five [Kenzadargent] to my inside, but I thought I had her. Getting close to the wire I tapped my filly a couple times and that was it.”

It was the ninth win in 23 starts and third Grade 3 victory for I’m Already Sexy, trained by Wayne Catalano for Hit the Board Stables. She won the Pucker Up in 2013 and the Modesty in 2014, both at Arlington Park.