Enola Gay Just in Time to Set Appalachian Stakes Record
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
Enola Gay wins the Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland
Allen Stable's lightly raced Enola Gay nabbed a nose victory and set a stakes record in the $150,000 Appalachian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (G2T) July 11 at Keeneland.
The 3-year-old Uncle Mo filly, making her first start since November for trainer Shug McGaughey, kicked it into gear late down the lane under Julien Leparoux and got up to defeat Walk In Marrakesh. Alms, the 1-2 favorite among the six sophomore fillies, was another head back in third.
"At the wire I thought I won it, but when I came back and I saw the outrider pick up (Walk In Marrakesh), I said maybe I was too late. But I'm glad she got it done," Leparoux said.
Breaking from post 2, Enola Gay rated in third and saved ground on the inside. Evil Lyn showed the way ahead of Alms with fractions of :23.25 and :46.28 through the first half-mile. Alms took command in the turn for home, ran three-quarters in 1:09.78, and was able to put away Evil Lyn in the stretch, but Walk In Marrakesh made a bold bid from fourth to challenge.
Enola Gay was back into fourth in the stretch as the race appeared to become a battle between Alms and Walk In Marrakesh, but she found a late turn of foot that carried her to a narrow victory. Leparoux guided her out to the four path with a furlong left to go, and the bay filly completed the mile in 1:33.97 on firm turf. She returned $12.60 on a $2 win bet.
"I think they probably started to slow down a little bit, and my filly just kept going and she fought hard the whole way," Leparoux said.
Enola Gay came back in the Appalachian from a fourth-place finish in the Stewart Manor Stakes Nov. 10 at Aqueduct Racetrack. That effort followed a debut win at Kentucky Downs Sept. 12.
The Appalachian was the third graded stakes race in which Walk In Marrakesh was narrowly beaten. She missed the Florida Oaks (G3T) by a head in March at Tampa Bay Downs and at 2 lost by a nose in the Natalma Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine.
Evil Lyn, Passion Factor, and Mariafoot completed the order of finish.
Enola Gay is the first foal out of the War Front mare Dakota Queen, and her second dam, multiple grade/group winner Moon Queen, produced grade 3 winner Beauty Parlor and stakes winner The Brothers War. The filly has a 2-year-old full sister named Flying Fortress.
Bred in Kentucky by Joseph Allen, Enola Gay was bought back for $90,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency. From two wins in three starts, she has earned $174,000.