St. Elias Stable's grade 1 winner Sweet Loretta got back to winning form when she took the $150,000 Adena Springs Beaumont Stakes (G3) by three lengths at Keeneland April 9.
"She's been training very well lately," said Ginny DePasquale, assistant to winning trainer Todd Pletcher, adding they have not decided on the filly's next race. "She hasn't missed a beat, so we expected big things from her today. She stepped up to the plate today. We're very happy."
In the about-seven-furlong test for 3-year-old fillies, Promises Broken went for the early lead, with My Miss Chiff, Sine Wave, and Sweet Loretta following closely behind. After traveling the first quarter in :23.47 and :46.61 for the half-mile, jockey Javier Castellano finally was able to get Sweet Loretta some running room by going inside along the rail.
Into the stretch, with six furlongs going in 1:11.27, Sweet Loretta opened up under a hand ride and drew away to win by three in a final time of 1:27.77 over a track rated fast. The longest prices in the field, at 16-1, finished second in third. Sine Wave came in second, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Laney.
"I had a really good trip," Castellano said. "I was inside all the way and saved all the ground the best I could. Turning for home, the rail was open and I took my shot. She finished really well. I give all the credit to Pletcher for the way he trained the filly, coming off a layoff after the Breeders' Cup."
Promises Broken, My Miss Chiff, grade 1 winner Dancing Rags, and Treble completed the order of finish.
Sent off as the favorite, Sweet Loretta returned $4.40, $3.60, and $3 across the board.
It was the first start for the Tapit filly since running off the board in the Nov. 5 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) after being bumped at the start and stumbling. Before that, she had a flawless record, with three wins that included dominating efforts in the Schuylerville Stakes (G3) and the Spinaway Stakes (G1). She now boasts four wins from five starts, with earnings of $340,520.
Bred by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables in Kentucky, Sweet Loretta is out of the stakes placed Bluegrass Cat mare Ithinkisawapudycat. She was purchased for $750,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November sale as a weanling. She is the first foal for her dam, who was a $2.2 million purchase by Mount Brilliant Farm at the 2016 Keeneland November sale.