With victories over the weekend, a pair of Virginia-bred horses continued impressive streaks that has seen each win five times in their last seven starts.
In winning Saturday’s $100,000 Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland, Exaggerated bettered her career record to that stellar 5 of 7 mark while at Penn National the day prior, Tough Weather’s victory established her own 5-for-7 streak, though the 5 year old Wiseman’s Ferry mare has made 22 career starts.
Exaggerated captured the $100,000 Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.
Exaggerated squared off against a full field of 12 on a stakes filled card at Keeneland, and the Lael Stables’ 4 year old Blame filly was up to the task by completing a solid gate to wire effort in 1:02.81. Bred by the Hart Farm, Exaggerated led by a length early on in the 5 1/2 furlong race, opened up by two at the top of the stretch and won by 1 1/2 lengths. Sent off at 10-1, the winner hit early fractions of :21.96, :45.26 and :56.82. Julien Leparoux, who was in the irons for trainer Arnaud Delacour, directed the effort. Exaggerated, out of the Valid Appeal mare, Miz United States, is 2-for-2 this year and earned her first stakes score since winning the Bert Allen Stakes at Laurel last September. She has bankrolled $159,660 from her seven starts.
Bred by the Hart Farm, Exaggerated won by 1 1/2 lengths in Saturday’s Giant’s Causeway Stakes. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.
Tough Weather may not have the same earnings per start ratio, but the Sam English bred mare is on an identical hot streak. She has won her recent five in claiming races at Laurel and Penn National that date back to December 15th when the run began. On Friday, she faced seven other foes and like Exaggerated, went gate to wire in her $14,300 six furlong sprint. Tough Weather was sent off as the betting choice, had a comfortable lead throughout, got collared at the quarter pole but shook off the challenge, then crossed in 1:13.57. Out of the Montreal Red mare, Soft Weather, the Scott Lake trainee paid $4.60. With the triumph, her bankroll stands at $113,414.
Tough Weather’s win December 18 at Laurel was the first of her recent five. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.