Laurel: Winning Image uses speed to outsprint foes in Willa On The Move

No one could match Winning Image’s speed breaking from the gate and no one could catch her in the stretch of Saturday’s $100,000 Willa On The Move for female sprinters at Laurel Park.

Jockey Jose Caraballo gunned Winning Image when the gate opened and despite a slight bobble, she easily made the front, chased by Red’s Round Table. The 5-year-old Winning Image set comfortable fractions of 22.78 and 46.05 seconds while cruising a length in front of Red’s Round Table, who faded badly in the stretch to wind up last as the 6-5 favorite.

Winning Image ($5.80) increased her advantage to as much as four lengths at the eighth pole and was confidently ridden to the finish. She completed six furlongs on a fast track in 1:11.21 to win her third stakes of the season, but her first since taking the $150,000 My Juliet at Parx in late May.

“This filly is as honest a filly as you could be on,” said Caraballo. “I had a lot of horse left. I never rode her. I just tapped her on the shoulder. Nothing. She’s a lot of horse.”

Withgreatpleasure mounted a rally to finish second at 18-1, 1 3/4 lengths behind the winner, with Made to Love Her another 1 1/2 lengths back in third.

A daughter of Southern Image trained by Michael Aro for Martin Scafidi, Winning Image has now won 8 of 20 lifetime and $390,837.