A drop in class elevated Shotgun Hottie , who ended a three-race losing streak in graded stakes by dominating the $100,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths over runner-up Musical Mischief May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.
The 5-year-old daughter of Gun Runner moved three wide into the stretch before drawing away in hand under Paco Lopez in the race for fillies and mares 3 years old and up.
She paid $3.60 for her sixth win in 19 starts and her first win since the Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) last July at Monmouth Park. She had been 0-for-3 this year, coming in fourth in both the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) and Azeri Stakes (G2) and sixth in the Bayakoa Stakes (G3).
The time for 1 1/8 miles on a fast track was 1:49.60. Shotgun Hottie earned $60,000, raising her career total to $926,557 for Omar Aldabbagh and Jeff Ganje. Julia Shining , second choice at 3-1, was fourth after being bumped at the start in her seventh consecutive loss.
“She was better than expected, very impressive,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said. “This was a step down from a grade 1 but it was a steppingstone to get to the Molly Pitcher.”
Video: Allaire DuPont Distaff S. (BT)
She Feels Pretty Continues big Day for DeVaux
DeVaux struck again with an odds-on favorite in the next race as 3-5 She Feels Pretty , ridden by John Velazquez, crushed the $100,000 Hilltop Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the grass. The daughter of Karakontie left second-place Just Better 5 3/4 lengths behind after a mile in 1:38.59 on a good course. She paid $3.20 for her third win in four career starts, and the $60,000 winner’s share raised her bankroll to $412,379 for owner Lael Stables.
She Feels Pretty hadn’t raced since she was third, beaten by only a half-length, last November in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
“She settled nicely and kicked clear,” DeVaux said. “She had been training well, and you hope they can come out fresh from 2 to 3. You hope they really come forward, and I was really impressed with her.”
She Feels Pretty with jockey John Velazquez looking back wins the Hilltop Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths at Pimlico Race Course
Later in the afternoon, DeVaux added a third stakes victory with Pyrenees in the Pimlico Special Stakes (G3).
Video: Hilltop S. (BT)
The Very One Goes to Future Is Now
Front-runner Future Is Now changed her tactics, rallying from third to defeat 22-1 shot Shoshanah by 2 1/4 lengths in the $100,000 The Very One Stakes for fillies and mares 3 years old and up. The 4-year-old Maryland-bred by Great Notion ran five furlongs in :58.29 on good turf for Paco Lopez.
Future Is Now earned $60,000, raising her total to $214,935 for owner/breeder R. Larry Johnson. She paid $4.60 for her fourth win in eight tries on grass.
“She was very fit, and seeing her come off the pace was very encouraging,” trainer Michael Trombetta said.
It was Lopez’s first ride on her. “I had seen that filly make the lead,” he said. “Today I asked Michael, ‘What should I do?’ and he left it up to me. I came from behind and had plenty of horse.”
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