Jessica Krupnick Moves to Top of MATCH Series Standings

Prevailing in a close finish to win the July 7 Dashing Beauty Stakes at Delaware Park, Sycamore Racing's Jessica Krupnick not only secured the first stakes win of her career but the 5-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo  also earned enough points to move into a tie for the overall lead in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships Series.

With Trevor McCarthy up, Jessica Krupnick rallied from fifth early to edge Lake Ponchatrain by a nose, with Cairenn another head back in third. That small margin of victory could prove especially big in the MATCH Series as the win, worth 10 points, vaulted the mare into a tie with Page McKenney in the overall standings and to first place in the dirt sprint division for fillies and mares.

Jessica Krupnick has earned 17 points in the series, with her previous points coming in a runner-up finish in the Regret Stakes at Monmouth Park. Trainer Francis Abbott III told The Racing Biz that he plans to keep her in the series. Next in her division is the Aug. 12 Satin & Lace Stakes at Presque Isle Downs, a surface Abbott believes she'll handle.

"The MATCH Series has been great," Abbott told The Racing Biz. "She was fourth in a stakes in Canada on the Tapeta up there because she worked so good on the Tapeta at Fair Hill. The next race of the series is at Presque Isle on the Tapeta. It seems a little silly to kind of go off course right now since she has been doing so good."

In the weekend's other two MATCH Series races, Audley Farm Stable's Smiling Causeway enjoyed a clear lead at every point of call Saturday and won the $100,000 Turf Amazon Stakes at Parx Racing. The daughter of Giant's Causeway  moved to the top of the filly and mare turf sprint division.

Also Saturday at Parx, Mr. Amore Stable's Vision Perfect tracked early before prevailing by a nose to win the $200,000 Parx Dash Stakes. The son of Pollard's Vision  moved into a tie for third in the 3-year-olds and up turf sprint division.

Next up in the MATCH Series is the $75,000 Hockessin Stakes July 14 at Delaware Park. The six-furlong main-track test is part of the 3-year-olds and up dirt sprint division. Potential starters include Chublicious, who currently is tied for second in that division with 10 points.