Spotted Heart Upsets MD Filly Championship
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Copper Penny Stables' Spotted Heart flew to a 23-1 upset in the $125,000 Maryland Filly Championship for state-bred 2-year-old fillies Dec. 26 at Laurel Park .
The daughter of Maryland-based sire Lion Hearted went five wide and overcame tight quarters before straightening away to rally. Showing a swift turn of foot under Sheldon Russell, she dispatched front-runner Everything Lovely in deep stretch and won by 1 1/4 lengths from Miss Bullistic, who was up to deny Everything Lovely second by a nose.
Spotted Heart was timed in 1:25.63 for the seven furlongs on a fast track. She came into the race after breaking her maiden Nov. 20 at Laurel for trainer Mark Shuman.
"Mark told me to try to get her in the clear at the top of the stretch," Russell said. "For a while it didn't look as if I would be able to as several of the horses were getting tired and drifting out. There were horses that were faster than her, so we really needed good position to win it."
Spotted Heart returned $49.40, $19.20, and $11. Miss Bullistic paid $9 and $6.20 while Everything Lovely brought $3.20 to show. The top three finishers all carried 119 pounds.
Candida H., who was the slight 2-1 favorite, finished fourth. Then came Ginger N Rye, Rocky Policy, My Magician, Clem Gem, Shirleys Curls, and Pret Say Eye. Mo Bagels, who vied for the early lead, broke down after the opening quarter and was vanned off. There was a stewards' inquiry but no action was taken.
Hereshecomesagain and Sara Rocks were scratched.
Spotted Heart, who has a 2-1-1 career line from six starts, was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Charles McGinnes. Her dam is the unraced Dehere mare Red Valentine, who also produced two-time Maryland stakes winner Glib, by Great Notion . Red Valentine is a half sister to the dam of 2014 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) winner Judy the Beauty.
"Once Sheldon got her clear, she really kicked in and he got her there," Shuman said of Spotted Beauty. "We had been concerned because she has been growing so fast. We'll just see how she comes out of this race, freshen her, or maybe not."