Conquest Whiplash, a speedy 2-year-old filly making her career debut, prevailed over the boys with an impressive front-running score in the $146,283 Victoria Stakes, June 22 at Woodbine (VIDEO).
Trained by Mark Casse for Conquest Stables, Conquest Whiplash was a $370,000 purchase at the OBS spring sale of 2-year-olds in training in April, and proved full value in the five-furlong stake over Woodbine's Polytrack.
A bay daughter of Hear No Evil, Conquest Whiplash was sent immediately to the lead as the 9-10 favorite by rider Eurico Da Silva as No Fruit Degroote and a rail-riding Irish Media chased her speed.
Conquest Whiplash notched the opening quarter in :22.16 as she led the six-horse field comfortably into the turn, emerging with a 2 1/2-length lead at the top of the stretch. She continued on to victory under a hand ride for a 2 3/4-length win. Ba Ba Brett closed for the place, 1 3/4 lengths in front of Bold 'n Golden. The final running time was :58.19.
Casse offered explicit instructions to Da Silva for the Victoria. "Mark said, 'Usually I say sit third or fourth, but today don't take any prisoners, just go'," said the jockey. "He put some fire inside me and I did (go)."
It was a good weekend for Conquest Stable as Casse also saddled Conquest Two Step to an impressive victory in a maiden allowance at Churchill Downs June 21.
Casse knew they had a filly ready to show some speed in the Victoria after watching her work at Ocala.
"We called her 'Whiplash' because she came out of the turn so fast working, she could hardly make the turn. It was like a motorcycle going around the turn," said Casse.
Conquest Whiplash banked $86,049 in victory for her initial race.
She returned $3.80, $2.70 and $2.10, pairing with Ba Ba Brett ($8.80, $4.80) for a $38.30 exacta. Bold 'n Golden was $3 to show, with the trifecta worth $135.70.
No Fruit Degroote was fourth, followed by Enthrone and Irish Media.