Oaks undercard: Red Carpet Ready, Didia win graded stakes

Red Carpet Ready outdueled odds-on favorite Munnys Gold to prevail by a head in the 68th running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Eight Belles for 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Rusty Arnold and ridden by Luis Saez, Red Carpet Ready completed the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:22.28. It is the second win in the race for Arnold, who won the race in 2003 with Final Round.

Munnys Gold, winner of her first three starts by a combined 38 lengths, shot to the lead out of the gate and led the field of seven through fractions of 22.67 and 45.11 seconds as Red Carpet Ready raced in the clear in third.

On the far turn, Red Carpet Ready went after Munnys Gold and stuck her nose in front at the top of the stretch. In the lane, Red Carpet Ready appeared to have things under control with a clear advantage only to have Munnys Gold battle back to her inside, falling just short of the winner.

Now a winner of four of five career starts, Red Carpet Ready is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Oscar Performance out of the Street Sense mare Wild Silk. She is owned by Ashbrook Farm and Upland Flats Racing.

The victory was worth $303,800 and increased her earnings to $588,670.

Red Carpet Ready returned $13.44, $3.94 and $2.74. Munnys Gold, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $2.46 and $2.10 and finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of Accede, who paid $3.22 to show under Flavien Prat.

It was another two lengths back to Condensation, who was followed in order by Olivia Twist, Sabra Tuff and Grand Love.

"This filly had a good break, and she put us right in it," said Saez. "When she got the lead, I wanted her to open it up, but she was waiting a little bit. When she was alone, she waited for the other horse to come back. I was pretty worried about the other horse, because in the long stretch, she tried hard to catch us. Red Carpet Ready is a spectacular filly. She always tries really hard."

Arnold plans to continue running Red Carpet Ready at shorter distances. "She wants to sprint and she loves it here. We’re going to regroup and keep to sprinting. Louie (Luis Saez) rode her great. He took it to her (odds-on favorite Munnys Gold, on the lead) and she was ready," he said.

Didia collars Sweet Dani Girl, takes Modesty Stakes

Didia swept past longtime leader Sweet Dani Girl en route to a 1 1/2-length victory in the 66th running of the $300,000 Modesty (G3) for fillies and mares.

Trained by Ignacio Correas IV and ridden by Vincent Cheminaud, the Argentina-bred Didia completed the 1 1/8 miles over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in a stakes-record 1:47.46 to win her seventh consecutive race and fourth in the U.S.

Sweet Dani Girl quickly opened a daylight advantage and led the field of seven through fractions of 23.25 seconds, 47.84 and 1:11.58 as Didia received a ground-saving trip while racing third.

At the head of the stretch, Didia closed in on Sweet Dani Girl and pushed by at mid-stretch for the victory.

The victory was worth $182,280 and increased Didia’s earnings to $472,109 with a record of 11:8-1-0. Didia, owned by Merriebelle Stable, is a 5-year-old daughter of Orpen out of the Rainbow Corner mare Dealmbre.

Didia returned $7.18, $4.42 and $3.48. Sweet Dani Girl, ridden by Javier Castellano, returned $9.32 and $6.20 and finished a half-length in front of New Year’s Eve, who paid $4.54 to show under Luis Saez.

It was 1 1/4 lengths back to Shantisara with McKulick, Sparkle Blue and Lady Rockstar following in order.

Caravel may go to Royal Ascot after Unbridled Sidney win

Caravel extended her win streak to four by cruising to a 1 1/2-length victory in the 13th running of the $300,000 Unbridled Sidney for fillies and mares.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Caravel covered the 5 1/2 furlongs over a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in a stakes-record 1:02.47.

Miner’s Queen was first out of the gate but was quickly headed by Caravel, who led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 21.67 seconds.

On the far turn, Caravel was challenged by Oeuvre and Little Jewel, a challenge she quickly dismissed as she spurted clear and dashed to victory without being challenged.

Winner over males in her last two starts in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and the Shakertown (G2) at Keeneland, Caravel is a 6-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Mizzen Mast out of the Congrats mare Zeezee Zoomzoom. She is owned by Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables.

Friday’s victory was worth $176,700 and increased her earnings to $1,677,577 with a record of 22: 14-0-3.

Caravel returned $3.48, $2.82 and $2.66. Bay Storm rallied for second under John Velazquez to pay $3.90 and $3.36 with Sarah Harper finishing a head back in third under Joel Rosario and returning $11.04 to show.

New Boss finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth and was followed in by Oeuvre, Little Jewel, Salvaje, Miner’s Queen, Majestic d’Oro and Margie’s Kitchen.

Cox is considering sending Caravel to Royal Ascot if she exits Friday's win well. "We will see how she comes out of this race first and foremost but that was one reason we brought her back at the age of 6," he said. "We took her out of the November sale, and that’s been the goal."

Heavenly Sunday leads at every call to win Edgewood

Heavenly Sunday took the lead shortly after the start and then fended off a host of challengers in the stretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length in the 39th running of the $500,000 Edgewood (G2) for 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Heavenly Sunday covered the 1 1/16 miles on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:42.40. It is the third victory in the race for Geroux, who previously won with Catch a Glimpse in 2016 and La Coronel in 2017.

Heavenly Sunday led the field of 11 through uncontested fractions of 23.19, 47.89 and 1:12.87 and hit the top of the stretch next to the rail as a wave of challengers fanned wide in pursuit.

Revalita, rallying four wide at the top of the stretch, posed the most serious threat but ran out of ground.

Owned by Miacomet Farm, Heavenly Sunday is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Candy Ride out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Alien Giant. The victory was worth $291,400 and increased her earnings to $428,833 with a record of 5: 3-0-2.

Heavenly Sunday returned $21.36, $9.72 and $6.78. Revalita finished second under Jose Ortiz and paid $10.48 and $7.94, finishing a neck in front of Mission of Joy, who paid $5.86 to show under Joel Rosario.

It was another head back to Papilio, who was followed in order by Liguria, Girl Named Charlie, Cairo Consort, Sabalenka, Comanche Country, Flashy Gem and Preliminary.