Coup Finishes Strong in Hilltop
Augustin Stable’s Coup carried John Velazquez to his third winner on Friday’s Black-Eyed Susan Day card, capturing the $100,000 Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico Race Course with a strong stretch run.
Seanchai and Anna Sophia battled for the lead in the 1 1/16 -mile test on the firm turf but could not hold off Coup in the run to the finish line. Coup prevailed by a length over Seanchai while running the distance in 1:42.71. Ainsley finished third.
Trained by Graham Motion, Coup had broken her maiden in her previous race at Gulfstream Park on a sloppy main track. The daughter of Empire Maker paid $5 to win.
Hilltop Stakes Quotes
Graham Motion (winning trainer, Coup) – “She ran super. She ran like I hoped she would. She doesn’t want to get to the lead too early because she gets to looking around like she did in Florida. Johnny rode her confidently.”
John Velazquez (winning jockey, Coup) – “She did it pretty easy, kind of stalking the speed. When I pulled her out she was there. She takes the lead and she wants to wait, so there’s more there than what she gave me. I think she’ll get better.”
Leigh Delacour (trainer, Seanchai, 2nd) -- “Kendrick rode a winning ride. It was a solid pace. She ran good.”
Mike Smith (jockey, beaten favorite, Anna Sophia) – “She broke well, very relaxed. That extra sixteenth of a mile might be stretching it.”