Fergus Galvin and Rebecca Hillen's Safeen rallied down the center of Ellis Park's turf course and got by pacesetter Bling in the final strides to win Sunday's 58th running of the $300,000 Pucker Up (G3), the featured event on Day 2 of Kentucky Downs Preview Weekend.
The Pucker Up was Safeen's first graded stakes victory from seven lifetime starts. She was ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Eddie Kenneally.
Bling was sent to the early lead after breaking from the rail and was soon pressured to her outside by Frontal Attack. The duo completed an easy quarter-mile in :24.52. Safeen and Saez tracked in fourth while staying in the clear. Around the far turn, Frontal Attack began to fade while Saez tipped Safeen to her outside. In the stretch, Safeen drifted in slightly but drove past Bling in the final sixteenth to win by a half-length. It was another 1½ lengths back to French-bred Freydis the Red in third.
“She's pretty quick from the gate,” Saez said. “The two horses inside were the speed. We let her sit and get into a smooth stride. When I came into the stretch I was loaded. She can run all day and confident she can get the (1 5/16) distance at Kentucky Downs.”
“I think we should have a look at the race at Kentucky Downs,” Kenneally said. “She's starting to mature and relax in her races. It makes her a better horse. At this point I think she can go a little further. I think we have a little cushion now that we have a graded stake on our resume.”
The race at Kentucky Downs Kenneally referred to was the $1-million Dueling Grounds Oaks (G3). With her victory in the Pucker Up, Safeen earned an all entry fees-paid berth to race, which will be run on Sept. 3.
Safeen's overall record now stands at 3-1-3 and purse earnings of $372,090. Sent off the favorite, she returned $4.54.
Safeen is a 3-year-old daughter of War Front out of the Dynaformer mare Tafaneen. She was bred in Kentucky by Shadwell Farm and sold to Galvin for $18,000 at the 2022 Keeneland January Horse of All Ages Sale, where Bluewater Sales consigned her.
The post Safeen Reels In Front-Running Bling For Pucker Up Triumph, Earns First Graded Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
