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Oprah Winney hails Fritchie with her speed Sanford J. Goldfarb, Michael Dubb & Bunch of Characters Stable's OPRAH WINNEY (Royal Academy) sprinted to a clear early lead and repulsed all challengers in the stretch to win Saturday's $285,000 Barbara Fritchie Breeders' Cup H. (G2) at Laurel Park. Trained by Tony Dutrow, who is subbing for his suspended brother, Richard Dutrow, the gray four-year-old filly notched her first graded victory and her third straight win overall, improving her career mark to 10-5-2-2, $407,930, with the three-quarters of a length score. Sent off the 3-1 second choice, Oprah Winney established early splits in :23 1/5, :46 1/5 and 1:11 3/5 before completing seven furlongs over the fast track in 1:24 4/5. She led by 1 1/2 lengths after the opening half-mile, but her advantage had diminished as the field bunched up behind her entering the stretch. Oprah Winney had more in reserve, though, responding to strong handling from Mike Smith in midstretch, and was never seriously threatened while leading wire-to-wire. The winner paid $8.20, $4.60 and $3.60. "I knew she was going to run well today -- she warmed up like a million bucks in the post parade," Smith said. "When they came to me at the top of the lane, I just shook the reins at her and she responded and just dug right in. She was actually pulling away in the last hundred yards." Silmaril (Diamond), the 3-1 third favorite, closed up the rail on the far turn and angled out in the stretch to challenge, but she wound up clearly second best as Oprah Winney was just too tough. The runner-up was worth $3.80 and $2.60. It was another length back to Smart and Fancy (Not for Love), who rallied into contention at the top of the stretch but lacked the needed finish. The 7-2 shot returned $3.20. The exacta paid $34.80 and the trifecta $118.60. Carmandia (Wild Rush) held fourth at 8-1 to complete the $274.70 superfecta ($1) (1-2-6-8). Leah's Secret (Tiger Ridge), the near 5-2 favorite, came next under the wire and was followed by Plata (Skip Away), Great Intentions (Cat Thief) and Dixie Marrone (Smoke Glacken). Bred in New York by Gatsas Thoroughbreds, Oprah Winney earned her first stakes win in the 2005 Randaroo S. at Aqueduct. She captured the restricted Bouwerie S. three starts later in early May, but went to the sidelines afterward and wasn't seen again until New Year's Day, taking the Interborough H. in wire-to-wire fashion at Aqueduct. She also placed in the Cicada S. (G3) last March. The first registered foal out of the Woodman mare Mere Presence, Oprah Winney has a two-year-old half-brother named Bubba A. J. (King of the Heap).
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