Vexatious Scores First Graded Stakes Win in Dowager
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Photo: Coady Photography
Vexatious (outside) wins the Dowager Stakes following the disqualification of Beach Flower to third at Keeneland
With the fall light waning over Keeneland and the crowd fighting to stave off the chill Oct. 21, nine fillies and mares loaded into the gate to contest the $125,000 Rood and Riddle Dowagers Stakes (G3T).
Shooting straight for the lead from mid-field, Beach Flower angled inward from post 7 to find her spot on the rail and set the pace followed to her outside by Daring Duchess with Vexatious and Viva Vegas vying for third.
In control by 2 1/2 lengths as the field turned down the stretch for the first time in the 1 1/2-mile test, Beach Flower ticked off fractions of :25.25, :50.69, and 1:15.91 through the first six furlongs.
Stalking the pace to the outside, jockey Florent Geroux guided Vexatious to the rail at the half-mile mark and managed to edge past Daring Duchess for second as the field left the backstretch turning for the final run to the finish line. Driving hard down the lane, Beach Flower refused to yield as her winning margin was cut from two lengths to a head by a fast-closing English Affair on the inside.
Pushed back to third a half-length behind as the wire inched closer and closer, Vexatious dug in with a final kick, but the effort proved just shy of a winning bid, finishing a neck behind Beach Flower in a final time of 2:32.40 over firm turf.
Tickets were held following the finish as Brian Hernandez Jr., the jockey of English Affair, lodged an objection against the winner citing interference. After a review by the stewards, Beach Flower was disqualified to third and Vexatious was awarded winning honors.
"It didn't go her way the last time in Canada (when she was seventh behind males in the Sept. 15 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine)," said Vexatious' trainer Neil Drysdale. "She got shuffled back in the first turn. She doesn't have that much acceleration.
"Today (jockey Florent Geroux) had her in perfect position. He had her covered. I was very pleased with the race. It's not the best way to win a race on a DQ but we're just going to have to take it. She's a very elegant filly, and she's talented. I would expect her to go and improve off this race."
English Affair was elevated to second following the ruling.
"We were the best horse by far, and we got shut off into the fence for no reason," said Hernandez Jr. of English Affair. "The door just closed. The rest of the trip was great. She was always there for me and turning for home, I thought I was on the winner and I got shut off."
Res Ipsa took fourth followed by Amboseli, Savannah Belle, Daring Duchess, Shezaprado, and Viva Vegas to complete the order of finish.
Owned by Calumet Farm, the Dowager marked both the first trip to the Lexington oval for Vexatious as well as her first graded victory. The 4-year-old daughter of the late Giant's Causeway last visited the winner's circle Aug. 15 when she took the CTT and TOC Stakes at Del Mar by a length.
Bred in Kentucky by James C. Weigel and the Giant's Causeway Syndicate, Vexatious was produced from the grade 1-winning Siberian Summer mare Dream of Summer. The eighth foal for her dam, Vexatious is a full sister to grade 1 winner and sire Creative Cause and multiple grade 2 winner Destin.
Vexatious was purchased for $150,000 by BBA Ireland from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment to the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Sunday's win improved her record to 3-0-5 from 13 starts with $309,525 in earnings.