Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Hot and Sultry got up just in time to prevail as the 6-5 favorite in Saturday's $150,000 American Beauty Stakes for older fillies and mares at Oaklawn Park before an on-track crowd of 22,500.
Hot and Sultry, ridden confidently throughout by David Cabrera, settled behind the early leaders as Connie K set fractions of :21.74 and :45 for the first half mile, while being tracked closely by I'm the Boss. The winner moved into second around the turn for home and after splitting foes midstretch to challenge, she prevailed in the final strides by a half-length. Her winning time was 1:10.10 for six furlongs over a fast track. Sarah Harper was third.
Hot and Sultry, a 4-year-old Speightster filly out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Hot Water, improved her record to 3-2-0 from five career starts and has now earned $256,395. She returned $4.40 for the win.
American Beauty Stakes Quotes:
Winning jockey David Cabrera: “Actually, this morning I talked to my agent (Joe Santos) about it. It's like, 'What do you think about the stake?' I told him I hadn't even looked at the Form. She ran such a great race the last time. I worked her the other day and I was just like, 'Man,' all she wants is to run. When we came out a step slow and they came over on top of her real quick, I kind of had to take up a little bit. I knew how much horse was underneath me.”
Winning trainer Norm Casse: “The only thing I was worried about all week going into this is whether or not it was stupid run her back in three weeks because I really know this filly's talented. Coming off a layoff, running a bang-up second last time out, I was worried. I mean, that's the trainer in me. You've got to be worried. But she touted her hand all week going into the race. She was ready to go. Plans change. Ideally, we would have been forwardly placed, just on cruise control, but things change. David (Cabrera) just rode a tremendous race. He was patient with her today. I really do think the sky's the limit with this filly. I'm happy.”
Trainer Greg Compton, second with I'm the Boss: “I'm happy with her. She ran big. I thought if we could have just stayed in a little bit more and kind of keep the 2 (Hot and Sultry) hemmed in there, but she ran her eyeballs out and I'm proud of her.”
The post ‘The Sky’s The Limit With This Filly’: Hot and Sultry Prevails In Late Duel For American Beauty Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
