Saez, Mylady Curlin Win Stretch Duel in DuPont Distaff
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Mylady Curlin and jockey Luis Saez are led to the winner's circle after the DuPont Distaff at Pimlico Race Course
The setting wasn't even close to the magnitude of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), but on Preakness Eve at Pimlico Race Course, jockeys Luis Saez and Tyler Gaffalione found themselves in another heated battle.
In the $150,000 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (G3) May 17, the protagonists in the internationally famous Kentucky Derby disqualification battled for the length of the stretch, with Saez and Sather Family homebred Mylady Curlin prevailing by a nose over Gaffalione and Summer Wind Equine's Golden Award.
In the Kentucky Derby, Saez was aboard Maximum Security, who was disqualified by the stewards from first to 17th for interference with Gaffalione and War of Will near the 5/16 pole.
The DuPont Distaff unfolded much differently, with Mylady Curlin taking a short lead at the start from along the rail and Golden Award chasing her in second in what turned out to be a two-horse battle for the win spot.
"When she came to the stretch, it was really a battle," Saez said. "I had the feeling I had it all the way. At one point, (Golden Award) got there, but I felt I had it."
Golden Award, a 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro out of the Arch mare Arch's Gal Edith, is trained by Bill Mott, whose Country House was awarded the controversial Kentucky Derby victory. She was five lengths ahead of John Oxley's Gio Game, who was a nonthreatening third for Mark Casse, War of Will's trainer.
It was Mylady Curlin's third straight win and first in a stakes race. Out of the Slewdledo mare Ladyledue, the 4-year-old filly was coming off a pair of optional-claiming allowance victories at Oaklawn Park March 17 and then Keeneland April 25 for trainer Brad Cox.
"We liked her from the get-go," Cox said. "I think having the lead and the rail was a nice place."
She has won five of 10 starts, with earnings of $301,903.
Final time for the 1 1/8 miles over a fast track was 1:47.64 after splits of :47.89 and 1:11.50.
The victory was the third, all in graded stakes, on the 14-race card for an offspring of Curlin. Tenfold won the Pimlico Special Stakes (G3), and Point of Honor prevailed in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2).