By Christina Bossinakis
Former claimer Lady Scarlet recorded a career-high victory Friday when coming from off the pace to take the GIII Miss Preakness S. at Pimlico. Allowed to survey the pace in third early as 4-5 favorite Happy Soul, prompted by Gimmick, led the way through opening fractions of :23.01 and :45.58, the dark bay was given the cue by Irad Ortiz, Jr. while swinging out wide turning for home. Slowly reeling in the battling leaders down the lane, she took over and powered clear to score by 3 3/4 lengths over Happy Soul, who out slugged Gimmick to finish second.
“I got the perfect trip,” said Ortiz. “She broke from a great position. I waited for the time to roll, and she did very well. She did everything right, everything perfect. They went out a little fast and I was right there behind them and waited for the time to go. I had plenty left.”
Trainer Mike Maker added, “We left it up to Irad to be creative. If they hooked up on the lead, so be it. If they gave it to us, so be it. She's won on the lead before, and she's won coming from off [the pace]. So it worked perfectly. I think she's a good horse and there's plenty of races out there.”
As to the beaten favorite, John Velazquez said, “She broke good and got good position. I don't think she ran her 'A' race today. Last time out [sixth in the Apr. 8 GI Ashland S.], she was flat. Today, she was mad but she wasn't herself.”
Picked up by current connections for what now looks like a bargain $150,000 in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden claimer at Churchill in November, the filly faded to fifth after setting the pace facing optional claimers at Oaklawn in December.
“It sounds like a lot, which it is, but with the purse structure that there is, the prices of horses has gone up.”
Given some time off following that effort, she returned a winner when coming from just off the pace going six panels at Oaklawn Feb. 26 and made it two straight with a win in Aqueduct's Cicada S. Mar. 19. Weakening late while trying to extend her speed an extra furlong in the GIII Beaumont S. Apr. 10, she finished fourth.
Pedigree Notes:
With the victory, Lady Scarlet becomes the 14th winner for GI Belmont S. winner Union Rags. She is out of SW and GSP Exclude, who is a half-sister to MGSW Exhi (Maria's Mon) and listed winner Diluvien (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}). This represents the prolific family of Canadian Horse of the Year Franfeluche (Northern Dancer), dam of HOTY L'Enjoleur (Buckpasser), champion La Voyageuse (Tentam) and Grade II winner D'Accord (Secretariat). This is also the extended family of French Highweight juvenile Holy Roman Emperor.
Friday, Pimlico
MISS PREAKNESS S.-GIII, $150,000, Pimlico, 5-20, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.07, ft.
1–LADY SCARLET, 120, f, 3, by Union Rags
1st Dam: Exclude (GB), by Include
2nd Dam: Soldera, by Polish Numbers
3rd Dam: La Pepite, by Mr. Prospector
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($72,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O-Paradise Farms Corp. & David Staudacher; B-Popatop, LLC
(KY); T-Michael J. Maker; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $90,000. Lifetime
Record: 9-4-2-0, $303,530. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Happy Soul, 124, f, 3, Runhappy–Cowgirl Lucky, by Stephen
Got Even. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O-Gayla Rankin; B-Harris Training Center, LLC (KY); T-Wesley A.
Ward. $30,000.
3–Gimmick, 120, f, 3, Into Mischief–Quick Flip, by
Speightstown. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($450,000 Ylg '20
FTKSEL). O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds; B-Spendthrift Farm,
LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $15,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, 1, 1. Odds: 2.70, 0.80, 9.80.
Also Ran: Verylittlecents, Saucy Lady T, La Casa d'Oro. Scratched: Sweet Solare, Under the Stars.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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