Simply Ravishing stays perfect with dominant Alcibiades win
Simply Ravishing tipped her hand while winning a turf route at Saratoga on debut for trainer Kenny McPeek, who typically does not have his horses cranked first-time out.
The Beyer Speed Figure came back a low 50 for her debut, which led to doubters in her second start, the off-the-turf P.G. Johnson Stakes. The New York rain may have been the best thing to happen to Simply Ravishing as she dominated her foes in her first dirt start.
Even after her 6-1/2 length victory in the P.G. Johnson, many experts refused to put her near the top of two-year-old filly rankings as she beat only three other horses on an easy lead.
It is safe to say all the critics have been put to bed following the daughter of Laoban's emphatic 6-1/2 length front-running win in Friday's G1 Alcibiades at Keeneland.
The dynamic of the race changed when the speedy Travel Column broke slowly leaving jockey Luis Saez and Simply Ravishing alone on the lead. She rated so kindly for Saez however; that it is safe to think she could have sat off another horse if she needed.
"I know there were two fast horses inside of me, Saez said. "She broke so sharp. She was right there, so we took it. She was travelling so good, I felt like I had a lot of horse all the way."
Simply Ravishing went a comfortable :48.59 for the opening half with her stablemate Crazy Beautiful and Steve Asmussen's Thoughtfully in pursuit.
Saez asked Simply Ravishing turning for home and she responded powerfully, distancing from Crazy Beautiful, who held second to give trainer Kenny McPeek the exacta. Travel Column ran on nicely to finish third after her slow departure.
"She did it pretty easy, Saez continued. "It was like normal, like nothing. It was amazing. She is a really good filly."
Undefeated New-York bred Simply Ravishing completed the 1 1/16 distance in 1:43.58 and paid $6.40 to win.
“I don’t think we know how good she is, said assistant trainer Alan Shell. "She’s won on turf, dirt, going short, going long. It’s just real exciting. We’re just so thankful we have owners like Mr. (Harold) Lerner and Jack Cohen and Magdalena Racing that are behind us."
Many were set to crown Bob Baffert's undefeated Princess Noor as the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies champion, but Simply Ravishing ensured the race will be on in Kentucky one month from now.