Trainer Kenny McPeek's magic touch with 2-year-olds at Oaklawn continued Sunday when Daniel Mc Greevy's Ice Cold overhauled heavily favored Denim and Pearls in deep stretch to win the $200,000 Year's End Stakes for fillies.
In the companion feature, the $150,000 Renaissance for sprinters, heavily favored Valentine Candy became the meet's first two-time stakes winner and was among four winners on the card for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Sunday's 10-race program marked the second exclusively for 2-year-olds in Oaklawn history.
McPeek won four in last year's inaugural format, including the Year's End with future Grade 1 winner Defining Purpose. McPeek added two more victories Sunday. The biggest came with Ice Cold ($8.80), who was ridden to her three-quarter length victory by Julien Leparoux. She covered the mile over a fast track in 1:38.97.
“I got the trip that I wanted,” Leparoux said. “Stayed pretty close to the Brad Cox filly (Denim and Pearls). From the three-eighths pole to the quarter pole, it looks like (Denim and Pearls) is going to go away from me. But (Ice Cold) kept digging. When I got to the straight, she switched leads and re-broke. She won nicely today.”
McPeek said Ice Cold has figured out going two turns.
“She just grinds it out,” he said. “Just a really hard-knocking filly. Tom Mc Greevy and Dan (Mc Greevy), the main owner and his brother, are fun guys to work for, too. Those kind are always great. It's good (last two years on Oaklawn's cards exclusively for 2-year-olds).”
Ice Cold, from the first crop of 2019 champion male sprinter and Spendthrift Farm resident sire Mitole, raised her career earnings to $190,129 following her second victory from five starts.
Valentine Candy ($3.40) was in traffic on the turn before taking command in midstretch after finding running room. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Valentine Candy's winning time for six furlongs over a fast track was 1:11.29.
“Very tough trip,” Rosario said. “…He did great. He was always there for me. Turning for home, I was able to work my way out and he did the work.”
Valentine Candy also won the $150,000 Advent Stakes Dec. 8 at Oaklawn. The son of Triple Crown winner Justify has a 3-1-1 mark from six starts and earnings of $263,925. He is campaigned by William L. and Corrine Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm LLC, and Coteau Grove Farms LLC
Sunday's estimated attendance was 15,000.
The post Ice Cold Takes Year’s End, Valentine Candy Wins Renaissance On Oaklawn’s 2YO Card appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
