Lovely Maria Earns Spot in Oaks With Ashland Win
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
Brereton Jones’ Lovely Maria took command turning into the stretch en route to a 3 ¼-length victory over Angela Renee to win the 78th running of the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) for 3-year-old fillies and pick up 100 points and a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) to be run May 1 at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Larry Jones and ridden by Kerwin Clark, Lovely Maria covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:43.66. It was the first Central Bank Ashland victory for Jones and Clark as well as the first Grade 1 victory for Clark in his career.
Temper Mint Patty led the field of seven through early fractions of :24.37 and :48.53 with Angela Renee and Lovely Maria in closest pursuit.
Leaving the half-mile pole, Angela Renee and Lovely Maria moved in tandem after the leader and hit the top of the stretch together with Lovely Maria quickly taking command.
Lovely Maria has accumulated 120 points toward the Oaks. Angela Renee picked up 40 points for finishing second to boost her total to 57. Silverpocketsfull picked up her first 20 Oaks points for finishing third with Lassofthemohicians adding 10 points to hike her total to 14 for finishing fourth.
The Oaks is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box.
The victory was worth $300,000 and increased Lovely Maria’s earnings to $402,600 with a record of 7-3-3-0.
A Keeneland Sales graduate, Lovely Maria is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Majesticperfection out of the Thunder Gulch mare Thundercup.
Lovely Maria returned $5.80, $3 and $2.80. Angela Renee, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $3.20 and $3 and finished 2 ¾ lengths in front of Silverpocketsfull, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., and paying $4.80 to show.
Lassofthemohicans finished fourth and was followed in order by West Coast Belle, Temper Mint Patty and Peace and War.
Source: Keeneland Press Release
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