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Excited nabs her first graded victory in Virginia Oaks Michael B. Tabor's EXCITED (Giant's Causeway) parlayed an ideal stalking trip into her first graded victory in Saturday's $150,000 Virginia Oaks (G3) at Colonial Downs. Under a well-timed ride by John Velazquez, the Todd Pletcher pupil pounced in the stretch and held off Summer Savory (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) by a half-length. Excited returned $7, $4.20 and $3.40 as the slight second choice at 5-2. In the early going, Wyomia (Vindication) and Mystical Star (Ghostzapper) argued the pace. As Wyomia led narrowly through splits of :23 4/5 and :49, and Mystical Star asserted herself when reaching six furlongs in 1:13 3/5, Excited was content to sit in the garden spot -- in third on the outside. Dynamic Holiday (Harlan's Holiday), the 5-2 favorite in her first start back since taking the March 13 Herecomesthebride S. (G3), was pocketed in fourth. Summer Savory, a rail-skimming fifth, was bottled up when eager to break out at the top of the stretch. In contrast, Excited would encounter no interruption to her smooth progress. Wyomia regained command from a tiring Mystical Star down the lane, but her advantage was short-lived. Excited was on the march and collared Wyomia, getting the mile in 1:37 3/5, and inched clear to complete 1 1/8 miles on the firm outer turf in 1:49 3/5. Although Summer Savory made a late bid once finding room, she had to settle for second. Wyomia reported home another half-length astern in third. Smart Sting (Smart Strike) rallied from near the tail of the field for fourth, followed by Dynamic Holiday, Pink Pallet (Include), Mystical Star and Sassy's Dream (Flower Alley). Excited's resume now reads 10-3-4-1, $244,796. A debut maiden winner on the Saratoga turf last August, she was pitched straight into stakes company and finished fourth in the Miss Grillo S. (G3). The bay went on to place second in the Good Mood S. and Sweetest Chant S., and third to Dynamic Holiday in the aforementioned Herecomesthebride, before attempting synthetic in the Ashland S. (G1) at Keeneland. Following her subpar eighth in her only non-turf start, Excited returned to the grass and bounded to a 3 3/4-length score in the May 20 Hilltop S. at Pimlico. She was most recently runner-up to Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex) in the June 18 Regret S. (G3). Bred by Chelston in Kentucky, Excited is the second registered foal, but first runner, out of multiple stakes winner Path of Thunder (Thunder Gulch). She has three younger full siblings, all unnamed -- a juvenile filly, a yearling filly and a 2011 colt. Path of Thunder is a full sister to multiple Grade 1 star and $3.5 million-earner Spain, heroine of the 2000 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Spain is the dam of Group 1-placed stakes queen Dreamtheimpossible (Giant's Causeway) and Irish Group 3 scorer Plan (Storm Cat), runner-up in the 2008 Secretariat S. (G1). Path of Thunder and Spain are also half-sisters to multiple Grade 2 victor Puerto Banus (Supremo) and Grade 3 winner Fantastic Spain (Fantastic Fellow). Excited's sixth dam, Sister Shu (Nashua), is a full sister to Hall of Famer Shuvee, famous for defeating males in the 1970-71 editions of the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Another full sister, multiple stakes victress Nalee, became an influential producer. Their dam, Levee (Hill Prince), captured such major events as the 1956 Coaching Club American Oaks and Beldame H., and was honored as Broodmare of the Year in 1970. Levee was herself a full sister to Bayou, the champion three-year-old filly of 1957, and likewise a noted matron. Levee and Bayou are in turn half-sisters to another Broodmare of the Year in Delta (*Nasrullah) and a successful producer in Banta (Some Chance).
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