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Oonagh strides to 'Cool victory
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Oonagh Maccool continued her win streak on Friday
(Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com) |
Charles Wacker III's homebred OONAGH MACCOOL (Giant's Causeway) continued to
stamp herself as one of the best distaffers in training with an authoritative 3
1/4-length score in Friday's $271,000
Louisville Breeders' Cup H. (G2). Three
for three this year, the Todd Pletcher-trained filly rated patiently under
Rafael Bejarano before pouncing at the top of the stretch, moving to the fore
with an explosive burst of speed while traveling in a seemingly effortless
fashion. She galloped to the finish line unopposed, completing 1 1/16 miles over
the fast Churchill Downs track in 1:42 4/5, and remains unbeaten on dirt."She broke a little poorly again, stumbled out of the gate," Bejarano said.
"She did that last time too. I just tried to stay behind the speed, and she was
comfortable there. After a half-mile, she was coming on strong, and at the
quarter-pole, I asked her to run."
The four-year-old chestnut opened her racing career in Europe last summer,
winning two turf starts before being sent to the United States. Her only career
setback came in a turf stakes race over a yielding course at Aqueduct in November, and she switched
surfaces next out in her seasonal bow at Gulfstream Park, winning an
allowance/optional claiming event by eight lengths. Exiting a smashing 2
1/2-length decision in the Rampart H. (G2), she carried her form forward on
Friday.
"She acts like she's something special, she really does," Pletcher said.
"She's been very, very good since we got her on the dirt."
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The 8-5 favorite returned $5.20, $3.60 and $2.80, and keyed the $32.40 exacta
with fellow Pletcher trainee La Reason (Labeeb [GB]), who offered a good late
rally to finish a clear second at 7-1. Place was good for $6.80 and $4.40, and
it was five lengths back to the 22-1 Gallant Secret (Menifee), who paid $5.80
and capped the $309.20 trifecta. In the Gold (Golden Missile) came next,
wrapping up the $3,211.40 superfecta (1-5-8-4) at 14-1 odds, and she was
followed by pacesetter Capeside Lady (Cape Town), who led the field through
early splits in :24 1/5, :47 4/5 and 1:12 2/5. Private Gift (Unbridled), Sweet
Symphony (A.P. Indy) and Leave Me Alone (Bold Badgett) rounded out the order of
finish.
Bred in Ireland, Oonagh Maccool is the ninth registered foal out of stakes
winner Alidiva (Ire) (Chief Singer). The outstanding dam has also produced
English highweight Ali-Royal (Royal Academy), winner of the 1997 Sussex S.
(Eng-G1); 1997 One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) queen Sleepytime (Ire) (Royal
Academy); and German and Italian highweight Taipan (Last Tycoon [Ire]). With
Friday's $140,127 paycheck, Oonagh Maccool has now earned $307,148 from her
6-5-0-0 record.
The winner's next target is the June 17 Fleur de Lis H. (G2), also at
Churchill Downs, on the Stephen Foster H. (G1) card.
Pletcher said Oonagh Maccool is as good as any distaffer he's had, which is
quite a statement, considering he trained champion three-year-old filly and
champion older mare Ashado.
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