Wertheimer and Frere's homebred Colony Band took an early lead and never trailed en route to a 3 1/4-length win in Wednesday's featured $109,700 Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old daughter of Dixieland Band ran the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:46.15. The filly won for the fourth time in 12 starts and earned $68,014.
Colony Band, ridden by John Velazquez, paid $3.60, $2.80, and $2.40 as the 4-5 favorite in the seven-horse field.
La Reason, a 30-1 longshot with Corey Lanerie riding, rallied from last place to finish second and paid $14.20 and $6. Ender's Sister, ridden by Javier Castellano, was 16 lengths back in third and returned $2.60."She did it easy," said Velazquez. "This was the first time I've ridden her, and she seems to have a lot of class. I think she has a good future." "I wasn't surprised when she made the lead because she's shown a lot of speed in the morning," said Pletcher's assistant, Tristan Barry. "She breezed so well over this track, we were very optimistic."Colony Band, who began her career in France, has won four of 12 lifetime starts, with two wins and one second in three starts since arriving in the U. S. following her 2004 European campaign.(Chart, Equibase)
Colony Band, with John Velazquez up, wins the Doubledogdare Stakes.
