Lovely Maria Sold to Japan

Brereton Jones's 2015 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection–Thundercup, by Thunder Gulch) has been sold privately to Japanese interests. She was exported to Japan just before the new year.

Runner-up to GISW stablemate I'm a Chatterbox (Munnings) in last term's GIII Rachel Alexandra S. at Fair Grounds, Lovely Maria's breakthrough performance came with a decisive score in Keeneland's GI Ashland S. next out Apr. 4, providing journeyman pilot Kerwin Clark with his first win at the highest level.

Sent off at 6-1 in the Oaks May 1, the bay scored another impressive victory to give trainer Larry Jones his third win in the event. The 4-year-old capped off two season on the track with a record of 11-4-3-0 and earnings of $1,003,000.