Dixiana Farms' Grand Ave Girl took command of the early pace and was never headed to win Saturday's $125,000 Wintergreen Stakes at Turfway Park.
Trained by Kenny McPeek, and ridden by jockey Luan Machado, Grand Ave Girl completed the one-mile distance in 1:37.12.
Grand Ave Girl and Machado broke on top of the field of 11 fillies and mares and cruised to an opening quarter-mile fraction of :24.11. Up the backside, Grand Ave Girl increased her early command on the field by 3 ½ lengths through a half-mile clocking of :47.75. Around the far turn, Grand Ave Girl felt her first challenge of the race from Kate's Kingdom, who made a sweeping move under jockey Jack Gilligan. In late stretch, Grand Ave Girl spurted clear of her rival for a 1 ¾-length victory. Purrfect finished a neck back of Kate's Kingdom to round out the top three.
It was another 2 ¼ lengths back to fourth-place finisher Maybe Later followed in order by Charges Dropped, Opening Buzz, Bella Conchita, Tap Dancing Lady, Candy Raid, Burgoo Alley, and Guana Cay.
Grand Ave Girl rewarded her backers with a $2 mutuel payout of $17.34 for the victory.
Grand Ave Girl is daughter of Claiborne Farm resident sire Runhappy out of the Holy Bull mare One More. She was bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock. The 5-year-old mare improved her lifetime record to 6-2-4 from 16 starts and purse earnings of $325,356.
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