Juddmonte Farms' Ventura overtook favored Indian Blessing in the stretch Oct. 24 and drew off to win the $1-million Sentient Flight Group Filly & Mare Sprint.
Longshot Dearest Trickski (inside) set the early pace, while being stalked by Indian Blessing (blue cap), with those two getting the first quarter mile in :22.26 and the half in :44.02. After six furlongs had been completed in 1:07.91, Indian Blessing took the lead coming out of the turn and was full of run.
Photo: BILL LUSTER
Her lead was short-lived, however, as Ventura steadily made up ground on the outside.
Photo: BILL LUSTER
Photo: Skip Dickstein
Ventura drew off in the stretch to win by four lengths, turning in a final time of 1:19.90, just :01 slower than the Pro-Ride surface track record for seven furlongs.
Prior to the Filly & Mare Turf, the filly had consecutive runner-up finishes in the Cash CashCall Mile (gr. IIT) at Hollywood Park and the Woodbine Mile (Can-I) at Woodbine. The filly has won the Just a Gleam (gr. IT) at Belmont Park and Madison Stakes (gr. IIT) at Keeneland.
“She ran effortlessly,” Gomez said. “She’s the kind of filly that, once she makes the lead, will kind of pull up a little. When we went by those horses, she was just cruising. She’s very tactical. Around the three-eighths I had edged her out a little and she got into another gear. Down the stretch, I got into her a little (with the whip) to keep her focused on the race.”
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