Pucker Up to I'm Already Sexy
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Hit The Board Stables' I'm Already Sexy moved forward off her initial stakes score Aug. 17 at Arlington Park to win the $175,000 Pucker Up Stakes (gr. IIIT) at the Chicago area oval Sept. 14 . The daughter of Ready's Image came into the Pucker Up off a 4 3/4-length victory in the first division of the Hatoof Stakes on the Arlington Million Stakes (gr. IT) undercard.
The 3-year-old filly went right to the front in the Pucker Up from her rail slot under Florent Geroux and never looked back, posting a 3 3/4-length tally over Every Way. Every Way, with Emmanuel Esquivel up, stalked throughout and was 1 1/2-lengths in front of My Option at the line. My Option was also third in the Hatoof.
I'm Already Sexy set early fractions of :23.51, :48.39, and 1:12.80 in the nine-furlong turf test. After getting a mile in 1:36.55, she threw down an :11.57 final eighth to seal the deal. My Option was followed by Remember Then, Frivolous, I O Ireland, Miss Scout, and Phonybooksnrecords.
"I thought we'd be the horse on the lead,' "Geroux said. "My filly was very nice and comfortable. I had a lot of horse. Turning for home when I asked her, she just went on and won very easy. It was an impressive performance here. This was a very nice field and this filly has a bright future."
The win was Geroux' second victory in the Pucker Up; he won aboard Dade Babe in 2010.
The winner, the 11-10 favorite, is trained by Wayne Catalano.
I'm Already Sexy paid $4.20, $3, and $2.40. Every Way paid $6.20 and $3.40, and My Option returned $3.20. The $2 1-5 exacta paid $31.
Out of the Trempolino mare Klohho, I'm Already Sexy was a $20,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale purchase. Bob Feld Bloodstock made the purchase from Equus Farm, agent. It was the first horse purchased for Evan and Anna Ciannello for their partnership group. There are 18 investors in the partnership that owns I'm Already Sexy.
The win puts I'm Already Sexy's slate at 5-0-0 from nine starts. She has earned $234,190.
Ready's Image, a son of More Than Ready --Clever Phrase, by Clever Trick, stood the 2013 season at Walmac Farm near Lexington for $5,000. The Pucker Up winner is from his first crop.