River Downs
River Downs: Motega stays perfect, pays $2.20
Patrick Lang/Lang Photography The 2-year-old filly Motega improves to 3 for 3 by taking the Tah Dah.
Motega improved to a perfect 3 for 3 after besting six other Ohio-bred 2-year-old fillies in the $50,000 Kevin Goemmer Tah Dah Stakes at River Downs on Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Joe Martin, Motega was kept just off the early pace by Jareth Loveberry, her regular rider. Loveberry shook the reins at Motega at the top of the stretch and she responded, drawing off to win by 4 1/4 lengths. She paid $2.20 to win.
Operation Bling rallied along side the winner in upper stretch but was unable to keep up, while finishing six lengths in front of pacesetting third-place finisher Mamooguska.
The running time for the 5 1/2 furlongs over a sloppy main track was 1.08.39.