Super Majesty scores as Dogwood favorite

LOUISVILLE, KY. – Talent trumped experience in Saturday night’s Grade 3, $100,000 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs when Super Majesty, making her first stakes start, made short work of more seasoned opponents to score a 1 3/4-length victory.

Showing the speed she utilized to win two races and place second in another in three starts in California, Super Majesty went straight to the front under Alex Solis and dared the field to catch her.

None could come close. After carving up splits of 22.78 seconds and 45.58, she opened up a three-length lead in midstretch and maintained a clear advantage in the seven-furlong dash for 3-year-old fillies.

Solis said the plan was to play to Super Majesty’s strength.

“We didn’t think that anyone else had the speed than she has - so we used that as an advantage for us,” he said.

The winner, a daughter of Super Saver, covered the distance on a fast track under the lights in 1:23.02, though she slowed a bit late with a final furlong in 12.92 seconds. She paid $4.20 as the favorite in the field of 12.

Chide, 10^th with a furlong to run, rallied belated to be second, finishing a neck in front of another closer, Sweet Swingin.

Those that chased Super Majesty paid the price, with Pleasant Tales, who said second early, stopping and running last, and Huasca, the 3-1 second choice, fading to fifth after racing third early.

Jerry Hollendorfer trains Super Majesty for owners Larry, Nanci, and Jaime Roth of LNJ Foxwoods, and her future is bright, according to Solis. “She’s a very talented filly,” he said.