Just Grazed Me Begins BC Undercard With Ken Maddy Win
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Just Grazed Me wins the Senator Ken Maddy Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Nick Alexander's homebred Just Grazed Me rallied from off the pace to take the $101,404 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes (G3T) by 1 1/4 lengths under Geovanni Franco in the kickoff race on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Santa Anita Park Nov. 2. Trained by Phil D'Amato, the 4-year-old California-bred daughter of Grazen notched her third consecutive win while racing 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf in 1:02.94.
With favored Girls Know Best and longshot Kentan Road battling for early supremacy with splits of :22.71, :45.22, and 57.03, Just Grazed Me got a perfect stalking trip under Franco while a joint fifth heading into the far turn. She then advanced to third leaving the quarter pole and accelerated through the final eighth of a mile to win.
"We broke nice, and she settled into a good spot," said Franco, who has been aboard Just Grazed Me in her past four starts. "There were some really fast fillies in there today. She just does what she does and took off on the turn. Once she pinned her ears back, there was no way they were going to catch her."
A winner of the California Distaff Handicap on the course Oct. 12, Just Grazed Me was off as the 5-2 second choice in a field of nine fillies and mares and paid $7.40, $4.00, and $2.80.
Out of Alexander's Cuvee mare Fairway Road, Just Grazed Me collected her third stakes win and sixth overall from 10 starts. The winner's share of $60,000 increased her earnings to $394,332.
"She's kind of actually changed her style more and more herself," D'Amato said. "She's coming from further behind with a bigger kick. … She's just finding her groove right now. It's really nice to see a filly develop like this and, hopefully, have a bright future ahead of her."
Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Apache Princess rallied after checking off heels in deep stretch to finish second, three-quarters of a length in front of Ippodamia's Girl. The latter made a run at the rail late to be third by a head over Don't Sell.