Juddmonte's Obligatory Rallies to Win Eight Belles
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Photo: Coady Photography
Obligatory wins the Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs
Racing second-last as the field of a dozen 3-year-old fillies turned for home, Obligatory uncorked a fierce rally on the outside and powered away in deep stretch to post a clear win in the $300,000 Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Smithfield (G2) April 30 at Churchill Downs.
With her one-length victory, Juddmonte Farms' homebred daughter of Curlin nailed down her first stakes win. Sent off at 16-1, she completed the seven-furlong test in 1:21.89 on a fast track.
Winning trainer Bill Mott believes Obligatory used her previous race, the March 20 TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), as a learning experience. She finished fourth in that 1 1/16-mile test, her first start at two turns, after she rolled to a 2 1/2-length score in her previous race, a one-turn mile maiden race Feb. 7 at Gulfstream Park.
"I think she was a little bit confused when she ran two turns in the New Orleans race," Mott said, noting he saw plenty of potential in her maiden score. "I mean she came off a very big effort at Gulfstream—she had a little trouble, had to check, and come around horses. Visually, it was a very good run in that race at Gulfstream when she broke her maiden."
There was no confusion in Obligatory Friday, as she returned to that top form she had displayed in her initial win, initially rating early under Jose Ortiz as Euphoric blazed through a quarter-mile in :21.89 and a half-mile in :44.46. Making her first start since finishing second in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), grade 1 winner Dayoutoftheoffice tracked from third early before surging to the lead off the turn and opening a 2 1/2-length advantage in early stretch.
But Obligatory had launched her seven-wide rally off the turn, caught Dayoutoftheoffice just past midstretch, and drew off to the win; her gray coat covered in victory dirt. Dayoutoftheoffice held second while Make Mischief claimed third, her third graded stakes placing.
"She's a nice filly," said Juddmonte Farms general manager Garrett O'Rourke. "We had a feeling she was really, really good, and she proved it today."
Obligatory and Jose Ortiz head to the winner’s circle after the Eight Belles Stakes
Kentucky-bred Obligatory is the first stakes winner from the stakes-winning Macho Uno mare Uno Duo , who has produced two winners from as many starters. Uno Duo is a half sister to group 1 winner Etoile Montante, and O'Rourke said she was a good fit for Curlin, with an eye toward dirt classics such as the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
"Curlin's a great sire," O'Rourke said. "(Uno Duo) was a spring filly that ran very well here and won here at Churchill. We wanted to send speed fillies to Curlin and hopefully get something back we could run here in the Derby."