Preferential Finds Room in Dowager
Juddmonte Farms’ favored Preferential (GB) found room along the inside at midstretch to win the 22nd running of the $125,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager for fillies and mares by a half-length over Left a Message before a crowd of 15,635 on Sunday afternoon at Keeneland.
Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Leandro Goncalves, Preferential raced just off the pace set by Cash for Clunkers while running closest to the rail.
Approaching the end of the backstretch, Preferential was shuffled back as the tempo quickened and a wave of runners went after the leader. At the head of the stretch, Preferential tried to move inside Valiant Girl (GB) but could not get through. That forced Goncalves to wait until midstretch, where Preferential split a tiring Valiant Girl and Angel Terrace.
Preferential disposed of Angel Terrace and then held off Left a Message to cover the 1½ miles on a turf course labeled as firm in 2:33.11.
A 4-year-old daughter of Dansili (GB) out of the Diesis (GB) mare Jolie Etoile, Preferential earned $75,000 for the victory that hiked her bankroll to $188,079 with a record of 14-4-2-1. It was the second victory in the race for Mott, who saddled Briviesca (GB) to win the 2005 renewal.
Preferential returned $8, $4.60 and $3.60. Left a Message, ridden by Robby Albarado, returned $4.80 and $3.80 with Angel Terrace finishing two lengths back in third under Rosie Napravnik and paying $4 to show.
Beijoca rallied to finish a head back in fourth and was followed in order by Janicellaine (IRE), Sheppard’s Pie, Valiant Girl, Kissable (IRE), I’m Your Luv and Cash for Clunkers.
In the ninth and final race on Sunday’s card, owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey earned a record 13th victory of the fall meet when their homebred Captain Cook raced to victory. Javier Castellano rode the 3-year-old Survivalist gelding, who is trained by Wesley Ward.
Racing resumes Wednesday with a nine-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m. (ET).