Cornerstone Thoroughbreds' homebred Medea powered her way to victory June 21 in the $103,000 Eatontown Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Monmouth Park, and that was exactly how she liked it (VIDEO).
The 5-year-old Danehill Dancer mare raced strongly from the start, hauling jockey Forest Boyce up on the rail into the clubhouse turn behind 9-5 favorite Nashly's Vow and chasing rival Lonesome Town.
"She broke well and we got set up perfectly," said Boyce of the 11-2 chance. "I was confident in her the whole time. I had plenty of horse. She's a pretty gritty filly."
While Nashly's Vow opened the advantage for a quarter in :24.21 and a half in :49.08, Boyce was able to get Medea to relax by angling a bit more to the outside. But the chestnut mare was always on the move and powered up three-wide around the far turn behind three-quarters in 1:12.70 before taking over on her own. She got the mile in 1:35.85 while narrowly ahead and drew clear late to post a one-length victory.
It was Irish-bred Medea's first stakes attempt overall, and her first victory since last November when she took a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance at Aqueduct Racetrack. In her most recent start May 24, she was out of the money for the only time in her career when fifth in an allowance/optional claiming race May 24 at Pimlico Race Course.
Trained by Francis Abbott III, Medea went the same distance over firm turf in 1:41.89. She returned $13.60, $5.80, and $3.80. Triple Arch rallied from between rivals to complete the $71.20 exacta at odds of 7-1, paying $7.60 and $4.80. It was another nose back to Lonesome Town, who paid $3.40 to show, with late-running Rusty Slipper a head farther back.
Dido, Nashly's Vow, and Misty in Malibu completed the order in the field of seven fillies and mares. Orion Moon and Lady Ten scratched.
Medea, out of the Giant's Causeway mare Scoop of Gold, boasts a record of 3-4-3 from 11 lifetime starts, good for earnings of $195,345.
