Miss Ella Steps Up to Beaumont Victory
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Jack Swain III's homebred Miss Ella went from debut winner last month to graded stakes winner April 12 with a victory in the $250,000 Adena Springs Beaumont Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland .
Out of the gate at 9-1 odds, Miss Ella tracked early leaders Fantastic Style and Divine Dawn from third about 1 1/2 lengths back, before a smart outside rally under Rajiv Maragh propelled her to the lead at the sixteenths pole. She scooted clear from there to win by 2 1/2 lengths from Divinie Dawn n 1:28.11 for about seven furlongs on a fast track.
"She broke well and she always put me in the race," Maragh said. "She was traveling really good, and when it was time to go, she showed a big kick. She was very impressive in her debut (when she won by three lengths March 11 at Gulfstream Park). She broke right on the lead and never was challenged.
"What really impressed me about today's race was she faced some adversity, because she sat off a couple of horses, and she still had her finish. It shows some good versatility."
Fantastic Style was quick to the lead and clocked fractions of :22.87 and :46.11 through a half mile, with Divine Dawn in closest pursuit and Miss Ella stalking in behind. Miss Ella moved to challenge the top two in early stretch, before Fantastic Style weakened nearing the furlong marker. Miss Ella shook free of Divine Dawn and drew clear for her second win from as many starts.
Divine Dawn, at 10-1, held on for second, a length in front of 2-1 second choice Fantastic Style. Delightful Joy, the 6-5 favorite, was never a factor and finish sixth.
The Beaumont is the final race in the "Road to the Kentucky Oaks" series of preps, offering 17 points to the top four finishers, and Miss Ella picked up her first 10 points toward qualifying for the $1 million race May 1. The Oaks is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box, with the current cutoff line being 40 points.
Trainer Graham Motion has a special connection to Miss Ella, a daughter of Exchange Rate , and said he thinks she is a special filly.
"She's got a remarkable demeanor. I trained her mother (the Woodman mare Sweet Tune), who was actually a turf filly, so this is all a bit of a surprise to us," Motion said. "I think she has a really bright future."
Miss Ella paid $21.40, $10.40, and $5.60. Divine Dawn returned $8.60 and $4, while Fantastic Style delivered $3.20 to show.
Miss Ella is the first starter for Sweet Tune. Second dam and Chilean stakes winner La Croisette produced 2004 Chilean Horse of the Year Isola Piu Bella.