Fergus Galvin and Rebecca Hillen’s Safeen rallied down the center of Ellis Park‘s turf course and got by Bling in the final strides to win the Aug. 6 $300,000 Pucker Up Stakes (G3T), the featured event on Day 2 of Kentucky Downs Preview Weekend.
The Pucker Up was Safeen’s first graded stakes victory from seven 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 was able to gain the upper hand of Bling by a half-length. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Freydis the Red who completed the top 3.
“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 (I’m) 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 (G3T). With her victory in the Pucker Up, Safeen earned an all-entry fees paid berth to the Dueling Grounds Oaks, which will be run on Sept. 3.
Safeen’s overall record now stands at 7-3-1-3 with purse earnings of $372,090. Safeen is a 3-year-old daughter of War Front out of the Dynaformer mare Tafaneen. She was bred in Kentucky by Shadwell Farm.
Paradise Farm Corp. and David Staudacher’s Me and Mr. C nailed a game Cellist at the wire to win the $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Turf Cup Stakes. Me and Mr. C completed the 1 1/4-mile distance in 1:57.94, tying the course record set by Bluegrass Parkway in 2021.
The 6-year-old son of Get Smokin was ridden by Gerardo Corrales for trainer Mike Maker.
He earned a spot in the $1.7 million Kentucky Downs Turf Cup (G2T) Sept. 9 at Kentucky Downs with his victory.
Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel, and Fergus Galvin’s New Year’s Eve gobbled up ground down the stretch and got by pacesetter For the Flag in deep stretch to capture the $200,000 Ky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile Stakes.
Jockey Luis Saez rode New Year’s Eve for trainer Brendan Walsh. The duo completed one mile on the “firm” turf in 1:33.30.
The 4-year-old Ktten’s Joy filly received a berth to the Sept. 2, $1 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3T).
Richard Ravin and Patricia’s Hope’sOne Timer sat just off the pacesetter Just Might and took control late to win the $200,000 Ky Downs Preview Turf Sprint Stakes.
One Timer flew over the Ellis Park turf course and completed 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:00.67, just .41 seconds off the track record set in the 2019 edition of this race by Totally Boss. The 4-year-old son of Trappe Shot was ridden by E.T. Baird for trainer Larry Rivelli.
Video: KY Downs Preview Turf Sprint S. (BT)
Video: KY Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile S. (BT)
Video: Pucker Up S. (G3T)
Video: KY Downs Preview Turf Cup S. (BT)
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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