Jay Em Ess Stable's Redeemed held off a nagging pressure from Not Abroad to win the $200,000 Greenwood Cup (gr. III) in track-record time at Parx Racing July 14 (VIDEO) .
Ridden by Ramon Dominguez for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., 1-10 shot Redeemed broke on top and quickly established a three-length lead in the 1 1/2-mile Greenwood Cup. When the field passed the stands for the first time, Not Abroad cut into the margin, with Hello Lover third.
Not Abroad stalked the leader the rest of the way but couldn't get past a determined Redeemed, who held him off at the wire by a half-length. Hello Lover continued on well for third, four lengths farther back.
The winner paid $2.20 as the heavy favorite. The factions on the fast dirt track were :24.76 for the opening quarter-mile, :49.31 for a half-mile, 1.14.82 for six furlongs, and 1:39.81 for one mile. Redeemed kicked in to finish in 2:28.10, a new track record.
"I'm thrilled he won," said Samantha Siegel of Jay Em Ess Stable. "Honestly, he's a lovely horse who earned that win today. I'm so proud of him."
The Greenwood Cup was a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Marathon (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park. Before the Greenwood Cup victory, Redeemed romped in the grade II Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park and seems poised for a Breeders' Cup bid.
Siegel said she and Dutrow will talk before deciding on the next race for Redeemed. "We'll see how he comes out of the race," Siegel said. "It's 0ne step at a time."
Redeemed, a 4-year-old Include colt bred in Virginia by Morgan's Ford Farm, has won eight of 13 starts for earnings of $832,140. He broke his maiden sprinting but has excelled with the added distance.