Champion Goodnight Olive Victorious in Madison Return

When a 2-5 favorite's lead slowly crumbles a sixteenth from the wire, most owners would sense the oncoming dread of the inevitable disappointment. Yet as Goodnight Olive  reached for the looming wire down the Keeneland stretch, First Row Partners' Steve Laymon felt nothing but confidence in the charcoal-coated champion he co-owns.

"I knew when Irad (Ortiz Jr.) peeked back, he had more horse," Laymon simply said.

WATCH: Steve Laymon on Champion Goodnight Olive

And the Eclipse Award-winning female sprinter did have more, prevailing by a length April 8 over a fast-finishing Maryquitecontrary  in the $600,000 Madison Stakes (G1).

"The other horse (Maryquitecontrary) made a big run, Shug (McGaughey)'s horse; made a big run at her but I think Irad knew he was safe," Laymon said. "I don't really get nervous (for myself) but you get nervous because of what it means for your partners. I have five wonderful partners and we have (co-owner) Team Hanley along with us and you just want to be successful because everyone expects you to win at 2-5. The betters expect her to win and so do (we). And as we all very well know, you can get beat at 2-5, but she didn't."

In her first start since a resounding victory in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), the overwhelming favorite proved up to the task against a compact five-horse field racing seven furlongs. Breaking sharply, the product of an aggressive warm-up prior to the race, Ortiz tucked the 5-year-old in behind the pacesetting Society , the 2022 Cotillion (G1) winner who was also making her season debut in the Madison, and the formful Yuugiri .

Over a track playing rather slow during the afternoon, Society and Yuugiri matched strides through a :22.53 opening quarter. It was at the half-mile pole, clocked in:45.93, when Goodnight Olive, fresh from the five-month layoff, angled herself around the frontrunners and seized command at the top of the bend. The Ghostzapper   filly scampered away from her rivals and surged into the stretch with a three-length advantage.

"Irad said she put away the speed and accelerated so fast for him," Laymon said. "He said only hit her one time because he felt clear."

Then Maryquitecontrary came rumbling from the back of the pack. The Florida-bred standout, a winner in five of her last six, tried valiantly but could not catch Goodnight Olive. A homebred for Rodney Lundock, the Inside Information (G2) winner did not disappoint in her first effort outside of the Sunshine State, and the first running for the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. She was 4 1/4 lengths clear of comebacking Society under the wire.

“We were (running) against a champion. For a moment I thought that I had it, but there’s no complaints," jockey Luca Panici said. (Maryquitecontrary) ran huge."

Goodnight Olive ($2.74), last year's Eclipse Award-winning older female sprinter, is now 3-for-3 at Keeneland. The Chad Brown trainee raced seven furlongs in 1:23.12 on a fast surface.

The Stonestreet Stables-bred filly was a 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale selection by bloodstock agent Liz Crow. Acquired on behalf of First Row Partners for $170,000, Midnight Olive was given time to develop, debuting at Gulfstream Park in March of her 3-year-old year. Second that afternoon, she would not race again until the fall meet at Keeneland, where she annihilated a field of maidens by 8 1/2 lengths. She has rattled off six more consecutive wins since.

"I was lucky enough to (co-own) champion Dayatthespa  and when this filly broke her maiden I was home and I told my wife, 'That might be the best horse I ever owned'," Laymon said. "She just turned to me and said, 'What? You gotta be kidding me.' And I just said, 'I think she's just that good'. And she's lived up to our expectations."

Goodnight Olive, the third foal out of the multiple graded stakes winning Smart Strike  mare Salty Strike , increased her bankroll to $1,391,950 with her third grade 1 tally. Lethal over seven furlongs, Laymon did not rule out stretching the filly out sometime in the future. The immediate target, however, could likely be another seven-furlong race, the $750,000 Derby City Distaff (G1) on Derby Day at Churchill Downs.

Laymon has no regrets about bringing his champion back for another campaign despite the allure of breeding her.

"I was interviewed after the (Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint) and there was absolutely no consideration," Laymon said. "We just knew we wanted to race. It's a racing partnership. I saw her this week when I came in Tuesday morning;I hadn't seen her since January. She had filled out in the chest and neck. She's really developed. And being by Ghostzapper, the Ghostzappers only get better with age."