Month: April 2022

Giving jockey Tyler Gaffalione his third victory on the afternoon, Gainesway Stable's homebred Karakontie filly Spendarella came from just off the pace to score an easy and popular win by 1 3/4 lengths in Saturday's Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Winning for the third time without a defeat, Spendarella covered one mile on good turf in 1:37.41 and paid $3.40 as the 3-5 favorite in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies. Dolce Zel, the second choice in the wagering, finished second, with Skims third and Kneesnhips fourth.

Trained by Graham Motion, Spendarella was produced from the Unusual Heat mare Spanish Bunny. She debuted in February, winning a Gulfstream Park maiden race at 1 1/16 miles, then jumped into stakes competition next out, going wire to wire to win the G3 Herecomesthebride at the South Florida track on March 5.

In the Appalachian, Gaffalione put Spendarella just behind the pacesetter, Glenall, who set fractions of :24.50, :49.11 and 1:14.12 for the first six furlongs. Spendarella took command into the stretch and was never challenged thereafter.

“She was going into the first turn very comfortably,” said Gaffalione. “She was in a great rhythm, and that other horse (Glenall-IRE) coming up inside didn't bother her at all. She relaxed beautifully and had some turn of foot.”

“She's made me look good,” Motion said of Spendarella. “She just does everything so easily. She's such a professional, she's a fighter – she obviously loves it. She makes me look smart.”

What's next for the filly? “I've heard mention of Ascot possibly, so we'll see,” said Motion. “I need to talk to Wesley” (a wink and nod to Keeneland-based trainer Wesley Ward, who is notable for success at England's Royal Ascot).

The post Spendarella Dominates Filly Rivals In Appalachian For Third Consecutive Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Prevalence pressed early pacesetter and favorite Nashville from second then surged to the lead in early stretch and won the $300,000 Commonwealth Stakes (G3) Saturday at Keeneland.

The 4-year-old son of Medaglia d'Or, a Godolphin homebred, cruised clear by 2 1/4 lengths and finished seven furlongs under Tyler Gaffalione in 1:22.47. He earned his career stakes triumph while providing trainer Brendan Walsh his third win on the day's card.

Long Range Todd was up for second, a head in front of third-place finisher O Besos.

With Prevalance in close attendance, Nashville set swift opening fractions of :22.12 and :44.61 through a half mile had nothing for the stretch run and finished last in the 10-horse field.

“I wasn't sure we'd get that close to (Nashville),” Walsh said. “(The plan was) let (Prevalence) work his way into the race. They were going quick, but he looked comfortable the whole time. Tyler said he was just cruising along for him.”

Prevalence came into the Commonwealth after a 4 ¾-length triumph in an optional allowance race March 5 at Gulfstream Park. After winning his first two starts last year, he was briefly on the classics trail but finished unplaced in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct in his first try in stakes company.

With Saturday's win Prevalence, who returned $7, improves to four wins from seven lifetime starts. He is out of the Ghostzapper mare Enrichment.

“He's just a very smart horse,” Gaffalione said. “He does everything so easily. The first thing Brendan (Walsh) said (after the race) was, 'Man, they went quick, but it looked like he was doing it well within himself,' and he really was. He has a high cruising speed, and he's a very intelligent horse. I had plenty left.”

Walsh also won the day's second race with Emirates Road, a full brother to Prevalence, and the third race with Longpants Required.

The post Prevalence Makes The Grade In Commonwealth In Treble For Walsh appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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