Carson's Run, She Feels Pretty Land Woodbine Grade 1s
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Photo: Michael Burns
Carson's Run earns his first stakes win, taking the grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine
With a wide rally in the stretch under Dylan Davis, Carson's Run surged past front-running My Boy Prince to post a 2 1/4-length victory in the CA$386,267 Summer Stakes (G1T) Sept. 16 at Woodbine.
Two races later trainer Cherie DeVaux earned the first grade 1 victory of her career when She Feels Pretty rallied in the stretch to win the CA$372,221 Natalma Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths.
Both races are Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" races. Carson's Run will receive a fees-paid spot in the Juvenile Turf (G1T) and She Feels Pretty punches her fees-paid ticket to the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). Both races are Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park.
In the one-mile Summer for juveniles, Carson's Run, by Cupid , landed his first stakes win. Trained by Christophe Clement for owners West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey, Carson's Run paid $8.60 to win.
Entered off a runner-up finish in the With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) Aug. 31 on the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course, Carson's Run completed the mile in 1:35.70 on good turf. The top two were followed home by Go With Gusto .
Bred in Kentucky by Frankfort Park Farm, Carson's Run is the first starter for the winning Henny Hughes mare Hot N Hectic. Hot N Hectic is a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner Rated R Superstar . West Point Thoroughbreds landed Carson's Run for $170,000 at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales' Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training, where he was consigned by Randy Miles.
Carson's Run is the first grade 1 winner for his sire Cupid, who stood the 2023 season for $5,000 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky. Cupid has one other graded stakes winner this season, West Virginia Governor's Stakes (G3) winner Duke of Love.
Video: bet365 Summer S. (G1T)
In the Natalma, Lael Stables' She's Feels Pretty improved position while racing four- or five-wide in the turn before unleashing a powerful kick in the stretch to score the decisive win. She completed the mile on good turf in 1:35.34—a slightly faster time than Carson's Run in the Summer. She was followed home by longshot Simply in Front and 7-5 favorite Dazzling Star .
Jockey John Valezquez guides She Feels Pretty to victory in the Natalma Stakes Sept. 16 at Woodbine.
DeVaux told Woodbine media that the milestone win was special as is her filly, who entered off a narrow maiden special weight race win July 16 on the Ellis Park turf. DeVaux said the way the daughter of Karakontie matures more every day convinced her to try the grade 1 level in her second start.
Bred in Kentucky by Payson Stud, She Feels Pretty is one of two winners from as many starters out of the winning More Than Ready filly Summer Sweet. Lael Stable went to $240,000 to purchase She Feels Pretty from the Stone Farm consignment at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
She Feels Pretty is the third graded stakes winner this year for Karakontie, who stood the 2023 season for $10,000 at Gainesway near Lexington.
In the Vigil Stakes (G3) for sprinters 3 and older on the all-weather surface, favored Patches O'Houlihan captured his sixth straight race and fourth straight stakes win. The 3-year-old son of Reload is conditioned by his owner, Frank Di Giulio Jr.