Amy's Challenge Prevails in McConnell Springs
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
Amy's Challenge wins the McConnell Springs Stakes at Keeneland
Early speed and an inside post proved a winning combination as Novogratz Racing Stables' Amy's Challenge cruised along on the lead and posted a 2 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 McConnell Springs Stakes for fillies and mares Nov. 6 at Keeneland.
The grade 1-placed 5-year-old Artie Schiller mare broke from post 2 and covered the six furlongs in 1:09.17 in winning for the eighth time in 19 starts for trainer McLean Robertson while increasing her earnings to $647,273.
The win was the second in seven 2020 starts for Amy's Challenge, who was an easy victor in a Delaware Park allowance optional claiming race Aug. 8.
Able to grab a clear lead early on the turn, she led by two lengths at the quarter pole after a half-mile in :44.80 and had little trouble holding off late bids in the stretch from Unique Factor and Wildwood's Beauty.
Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, and Peter Deutsch's Unique Factor, a daughter of The Factor trained by Peter Miller, was second by a head over William Stiritz's Wildwood's Beauty, a Kantharos filly trained by Scott Becker.
Sent off as the 5-2 favorite, the daughter of the Jump Start mare Jump Up bred by Sienna Farm paid $7.80 to win.
Amy's Challenge was a $20,000 purchase by Novogratz from Paramount Sales' consignment to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling sale in 2016. Her dam produced a Kitten's Joy filly this year.