Sisterly Love stuns Emollient in Doubledogdare Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The huge Keeneland spring meet being enjoyed by jockey Stewart Elliott and trainer Mark Casse got an exclamation point Friday when they teamed to win the Grade 3, $100,000 Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland.

Sisterly Love, the 8-1 third choice, looked 7-10 favorite Emollient right in the eye and pulled away from her in the stretch before holding off a torrid outside run by 25-1 shot Moment in Dixie to capture the 1 1/16-mile Polytrack race by a neck.

Emollient, ridden by Mike Smith, dueled for the lead most of the way outside of Sisterly Love before settling for third, another neck back, with Strathnaver another length back in fourth in a field of 10 fillies and mares.

Owned by Gary Barber, Sisterly Love returned $18 after finishing in 1:43.82. It was the speedy bay mare’s second win at the meet, following an allowance score two weeks beforehand.

Sisterly Love “was right where we wanted her,” said Elliott. “She was comfortable the whole way. At the quarter pole, it looked like Mike was asking already. I said, ‘Man, I’ve got a chance.’ And I did. She finished up.”

Casse, a six-time Sovereign Award winner in Canada, and Elliott, a Canadian native best known for his work 10 years ago with Smarty Jones, have been among the leaders in their respective categories since opening weekend.

Through Friday, the 11th of 15 programs at the meet, Casse held a tenuous one-win lead atop the trainer standings, while Elliott trailed only Julien Leparoux atop the jockey standings.

Sisterly Love, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred by Bellamy Road, has won half of her 14 career starts and earned $427,004.

Emollient was the heavy favorite based on her only two prior starts over the Keeneland Polytrack, Grade 1 wins last year in the Ashland and Spinster at age 3.

After the top four, the order was Solid Appeal, Ire, Noble Charlotte, Gold Medal Dancer, Sisterhood, and Pearl Turn. Dixie Strike was an early scratch.

The $2 exacta (7-2) paid $396.20, the $1 trifecta (7-2-10) returned $844.40, and the 10-cent superfecta (7-2-10-11) was worth $423.17.

Ontrack attendance on a warm, mostly cloudy afternoon was 20,884.

The spring meet ends next Friday, with action moving to Churchill Downs the following evening.