William Pacella, Frank Jones, and Frank Shoop's Sweeping Paddy tracked the early leaders before he launched a four-wide move in the stretch to take over and quickly drew away for a 3 1/2-length win over 5-2 favorite Proctor's Ledge in the $100,000 Regret Stakes (G3T) June 17 at Churchill Downs. Watch Video
Sweeping Paddy, ridden by Luis Saez and trained Dale Romans, ran 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:47.62 to defeat 11 other 3-year-old fillies.
Sweeping Paddy, the 7-2 second choice in the wagering, paid $9.20, $4.60, and $4. Proctor's Ledge, with Corey Lanerie aboard, paid $4.20 and $3.60. Summer Luck, with Florent Geroux up, finished third and paid $7.20.
Like a Hurricane sprinted clear to set the pace—:23.30 for the first quarter-mile, :47.04 for the half, and 1:11.62 through six furlongs—with Sweeping Paddy racing in third, about 7 1/2 lengths behind down the backstretch. She proved to be much the best in the stretch over Proctor's Ledge, who rallied from far back to get second. The top two most recently finished third and fourth in the $150,000 Edgewood (G3T) on the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard.
With her first stakes win, Sweeping Paddy improved her record to 8-2-1-2 with $186,660 in earnings. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Paddy O'Prado is out of the mare C. S. Royce (Unbridled's Song), who also was trained by Romans.
Sweeping Paddy wins the 2017 Regret Stakes
