The 7-year-old Montbrook stallion Chapel Royal was represented by his first winner April 19 when Elite Racing Partners’ Royal Card won an eventful third race at Keeneland.
Royal Card, a 2-year-old daughter of the De Niro mae Showmethegreencard, escaped her handlers and dumped jockey John Velazquez before cantering off about a furlong down the track prior to the start of the maiden event, a 4 ½-furlong contest for juvenile fillies. She was quickly apprehended by the outriders and was permitted to start under Velazquez, who was not injured following the incident.
Second at the start, Royal Card quickly moved up to stalk the pace set by Old Time Religion. Four wide as the field entered the stretch, she wore down the leader and edged away to win by 1 ¾ lengths in a final time of :50.93 for trainer Todd Pletcher. She returned $6.80, $4, and $3.
Also in that race, the horse breaking from post one refused to leave the gate upon the start, but was declared a starter by the stewards.
Second at the start, Royal Card quickly moved up to stalk the pace set by Old Time Religion. Four wide as the field entered the stretch, she wore down the leader and edged away to win by 1 ¾ lengths in a final time of :50.93 for trainer Todd Pletcher. She returned $6.80, $4, and $3.
Also in that race, the horse breaking from post one refused to leave the gate upon the start, but was declared a starter by the stewards.
Chapel Royal, winner of the 2003 Sanford Stakes (gr. II) and Flash Stakes (gr. III) and third-place finisher in that year’s Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I), stands at Ashford Stud for a fee of $10,000 live foal. Showmethegreencard is the producer of the stakes-winning Jump Start filly Mrs. Began.
