Fair Point Rallies to Senator Ken Maddy Win
Eastern invader Fair Point rallied from mid-pack to win Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths under Jose Ortiz for owner Stuart Janney, III, and trainer Shug McGaughey. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Smart Strike, she negotiated 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:11.75.
Based at Belmont Park, she came off a narrow second place finish going 5 ½ furlongs on turf at Keeneland Oct. 14 and ventured west for the first time today. Dispatched at 9-2 in a field of 12 fillies and mares three and up, she paid $11.00, $5.60 and $4.00.
In collecting her first graded stakes victory, Fair Point improved her overall record to 14-5-7-1. With the winner’s share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $389,850.
With Santiago Gonzalez up, Miss Double d’Oro rallied from far back to finish second, 1 ¼ lengths in front of Most Beautiful. Off at 29-1, Miss Double d’Oro paid $21.40 and $12.00.
Ridden by Gary Stevens, English-bred Most Beautiful rallied from last to prevail by a head over favored Lady Shipman and paid $8.40 to show.
Fractions on the race were 21.20, 42.99 and 1:05.58.
JOSE ORTIZ, FAIR POINT, WINNER: “She was perfect. She broke really well and went down the hill really well for her first time and I did too in the first time for me, also. We got a good position and as soon as we crossed the dirt, I tipped out a little and she gave me a really good run.”
SHUG McGAUGHEY, FAIR POINT, WINNER: “She turned the corner today. We won at Saratoga and then we came a head short at Keeneland. Those two races were at 5 ½, so I was looking for something 6 ½ and this race came up. She was training great in New York and she liked the trip here and she trained very well here. She did everything right. I felt if we got the trip, we’d be fine and Jose did a great job. The turf is very fast and very fair. She finished really well on it. I think I want to just give her a break, but she is awfully good right now. She is a very nice filly and we are looking forward to next year.”
STUART S. JANNEY III, FAIR POINT, OWNER: “Just a wonderful day. First time for the horse and first time for the jock down the hill. She’s just done so well the past few months. She’s just developed into a really nice filly.”
Source: Santa Anita Park