Front-running Plum Pretty shook loose on the turn for home and left favored It's Tricky far behind in the $750,000 Cotillion Stakes (gr. II) Oct. 1 at Philadelphia's Parx Racing, earning her first victory since the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) in the spring (VIDEO).
With Rafael Bejarano aboard her for the first time, Plum Pretty was brilliant in avenging a loss to It's Tricky in the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) at Saratoga July 23. She romped by 7 1/2 lengths while completing the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-old fillies in 1:41.19 on a track upgraded to fast after earlier rain.
With her third stakes win of the year, Plum Pretty surpassed $1 million in career earnings.
Bob Baffert trains Plum Pretty, who snapped a three-race losing streak for owner Peachtree Stable. In her last start, Plum Pretty found the 1 1/4 miles of Saratoga's Alabama Stakes (gr. I) a bit too taxing, giving way late to finish a distant fourth behind Royal Delta. It's Tricky was second that day.
The winning 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro --Liszy (by A.P. Indy) was bred in Pennsylvania by Silent Indy Stables and D D S Stables.
In handily defeating It's Tricky, who also won the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park in June, Plum Pretty probably puts herself back on top in the national divisional ranking of 3-year-old fillies.
Six contested the Cotillion, with It's Tricky the 6-5 choice over 3-2 Plum Pretty.
Plum Pretty snatched the lead out of the gate from Love and Pride and led that one through solid fractions (:23.11, :46.74, 1:10.70) as It's Tricky, ridden by Eddie Castro, and Halo Dolly tracked in third and fourth.
Joe Bravo on Love and Pride attempted to increase the pressure on Plum Pretty rounding the final turn but Plum Pretty responded well to take control at the quarter pole. She widened her advantage to five lengths at mid-stretch and was never threatened in the slightest while taken in hand in the final sixteenth of a mile.
It's Tricky, who bumped while rallying with the retreating Love and Pride entering the stretch, was second by 4 1/4 lengths over 72-1 Daring Reality, who closed from last with Oliver Castillo aboard. Buster's Ready was next, followed by Love and Pride and Halo Dolly.
Plum Pretty won the Kentucky Oaks May 6 at Churchill Downs by a neck over St. John's River following her 25-length romp in the Sunland Park Oaks in March. She ran second in the Hollywood Oaks (gr. II) before her next starts at Saratoga in the Coaching Club and Alabama.
She earned $430,500 for the Cotillion victory, boosting her career bankroll to $1,296,700. She owns a lifetime mark of 4-2-2 in nine starts.
Plum Pretty carried 124 pounds and paid $5, $2.60, $2.40. It's Tricky, who also toted 124 pounds for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, returned $2.60 and $2.10 while completing a $10.20 exacta. Daring Reality was $5 to show.
Plum Pretty delivers in the Cotillion at Parx.
Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO