The Big Beast Has First Winner From First Starter
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Photo: Coady Photography
Ms Headley wins on debut by two lengths at Churchill Downs
Christina Jelm and Mike Puhich's Ms Headley scored on debut May 1 at Churchill Downs, giving her sire, The Big Beast , his first winner from his first starter.
The filly trained by Wesley Ward gave chase in second as Biddy Duke took the field of eight other 2-year-old fillies through a quarter-mile in :22.20. Coming off the turn and into the stretch of the five-furlong contest, Ms Headley drifted out toward the center of the track, but once Irad Ortiz Jr. got her straightened out, she took over the lead to post a half-mile time in :45.79.
Driving to the wire, she finished two lengths ahead in a final time of :59.22 over a fast track.
Bred in Florida by Lybby Gay and Ronald Gay, Ms Headley is the second winner from three runners out of the Trippi mare My Coastie.
The Big Beast, an 18-hand son of Yes It's True, entered stud in 2016 after it was announced he would not race that year because of nagging foot issues. The Big Beast earned respect as a top-level sprinter after winning the Ketel One King's Bishop Stakes (G1).
He finished runner-up in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) and the Priority One Jets Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course in his final two starts. He retired with a record of 4-3-1 from nine starts and earnings of $676,300.
The Big Beast stands at Ocala Stud in Florida for a 2019 fee of $6,000.