By Christina Bossinakis
Riding a three-race win streak, Stellify went to the front a few jumps into the GIII Light & Wonder Ladies Marathon Invitational at Kentucky Downs and held the advantage all the way to an easy score.
Sent off the 2-1 choice, the 4-year-old led No Mo Candy (Uncle Mo) fractions of :26.10, :49.57 and 1:13 for three quarters. In control turning passing the three-eighths pole, the $140,000 KEESEP yearling purchase spurted clear in the lane and despite the best effort of closing Miwa (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) late, the favorite finished four lengths ahead of Way to Be Marie (Not This Time) at the wire. Miwa held on to finish third.
Third going a mile in her career bow at Fair Grounds Feb. 22, the Brad Cox-trained filly was favored next time going an extra sixteenth there, finishing runner-up behind subsequent stakes winner Hope Mission (Medaglia d'Oro). Adding another sixteenth at Churchill Downs May 1, the dark bay came from just off the pace to score by two lengths over next out winner Fleetingly (Justify) and made it two-straight while stepping up to 11 furlongs in allowance company in Louisville on June 12.
Doing what she does best, favored Stellify went wire to wire to take a 12-furlong optional claimer at Kentucky Downs by two lengths.
Pedigree Notes:
Stellify, a $140,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, becomes the 27th lifetime graded/group winner for Coolmore stallion Justify. The elegantly-bred filly is one out of two winners for Savvy Star, a sister to Grade I winner Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat), in addition to GSWs Lord of the Game (Storm Cat) and Dramedy (Distorted Humor). Third dam Get Lucky, a sister to champion juvenile Rhythm, proved prolific as well, producing the likes of MGSW and GISP Daydreaming, the dam of GISW Imagining; GI Vosburgh winner Girolamo and GSW and GISP Accelerator.
This is also the family of GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and GISW Got Lucky.
Saturday, Kentucky Downs
LIGHT & WONDER LADIES MARATHON INVITATIONAL S.-GIII, $1,806,666, Kentucky Downs, 9-6, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 5/16mT, 2:06.84, gd.
1–STELLIFY, 122, f, 4, by Justify
1st Dam: Savvy Star, by Medaglia d'Oro
2nd Dam: She's a Winner, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Get Lucky, by Mr. Prospector
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($140,000
Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Elements Racing LLC, George Messina &
Michael Lee; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent
Geroux. $1,164,200. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-1, $1,442,604.
Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Way to Be Marie, 122, f, 4, Not This Time–Woman of the
World, by Henrythenavigator. ($75,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP;
$95,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Robert V. LaPenta & Madaket
Stables LLC; B-William B. Harrigan & Mike Pietrangelo (KY);
T-Rob Atras. $382,000.
3–Miwa (GB), 122, f, 4, Siyouni (Fr)–Bartaba (Fr), by Deep
Impact (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
(€230,000 3yo '24 ARQDEC). O-Repole Stable; B-Wertheimer
Et Frere (GB); T-Joe Sharp. $91,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 3/4, 1. Odds: 2.11, 19.56, 4.93.
Also Ran: Duvet Day (Ire), Nadette (Fr), Beach Bomb (Saf), Boss Lady Bailey, Ayra Stark (Arg), Spanish Eyes (Ger), No Mo Candy, Gran Mirella (Arg). Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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