Informed Decision grabs first two-turn victory in Windward

Informed Decision answered the question that trainer Jonathan Sheppard wanted answered and won the $100,000 Windward at Presque Isle Downs on Tuesday evening. The 2009 Eclipse Award-winning mare led throughout the one-mile event and won going two turns for the first time in her career.

Jockey Julien Leparoux was able to set slow fractions throughout the early part of the race, going in 25.59 seconds, 49.86, and six furlongs in 1:14.21. Turning for home the outcome looked all but settled. When Leparoux shook the reins Hooh Why under Ronnie Allen Jr. came to challenge, Informed Decision responded en route to a 1 1/2-length win.

Sheppard was pleased with the race.

"I am very happy," he said. "It wasn't a blowout, but a very very workmanlike, authoritative win."

The final running time of 1:38.53, nearly three seconds off the track record, didn't bother Sheppard either.

"She was on the lead and wouldn't let anyone go by her, the rider shook her up just a bit and she went on," Sheppard said. "She was very intense."

Hooh Why finished a length in front of Cure for Sale in third. The winner returned $2.60 to win in the field of five after six horses were scratched.

Informed Decision will next run at Saratoga in the Ballerina, and Sheppard doesn't see a change of course with his mare.

"It gives us options in the future," he said, "but for now, I think we will keep to the plan of sprinting her."