Alwajeeha scores in Appalachian

Shadwell Stables' homebred ALWAJEEHA (Dixieland Band) was sent off the

co-third choice at nearly 5-1 in Wednesday's $125,000

Appalachian S. (G3) at Keeneland, but ran like a favorite while scoring a

determined head victory.

Mrs Petoski (Orientate) shot out of the gate from her far outside post when

the doors opened and took the

lead going into the first turn with jockey Joe Bravo. Setting tepid splits of :24 2/5, :49 2/5 and

1:14 1/5 while racing down the backside, she maintained her advantage through

the second turn and into midstretch. By that point, however, Alwajeeha had hit

her stride under John Velazquez and swept past. It wasn't an easy win, as

Sweepstake (Ire) (Acclamation) and I Lost My Choo (Western Expression) were also

running hard down the lane, but the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee proved too much

for her rivals, gutting out the

head victory while finishing a mile on the firm turf in 1:37 1/5.

"She's a super filly," said Neal McLaughlin, brother and assistant to Kiaran

McLaughlin. "I want to congratulate Rich Nichols (of Shadwell Stable) for

talking to Kiaran. We decided to scratch her out of a race last week and run in

the stakes today. He was right, she's a stakes filly. We're going to have a lot

of fun with her this year."

Alwajeeha paid out $11.80, $6.20

and $4.40 to her faithful backers while keying the $70.60 exacta, $224.40

trifecta and $6,057.80 superfecta (9-6-1-10). Sweepstake managed to get her nose

down on the line before 5-2 favorite I Lost My Choo, returning $6.20 and $3.80

as the 9-2 second pick. Show was worth $3.

Vancy Pants (Van Nistelrooy) followed in fourth, with Namaste's Wish

(Pulpit), Much Obliged (Kingmambo), Absolutely Cindy (Arch), Lickety Lemon

(Lemon Drop Kid), Mrs Petoski and Fashion Rocks (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire])

completing the order under the wire. Magger Bags (Indian Charlie) was withdrawn

while Fareena (Point Given), the other also-eligible, didn't draw in.

Alwajeeha took two tries to break her maiden, finally scoring by 1 1/2

lengths over Aqueduct's turf, then returned two months later to make her stakes

and sophomore debut in the Tropical Park Oaks. She was second that day after

rallying from well back, then filled that same spot last out in a Gulfstream

Park allowance going 1 1/16 miles on good grass. The Kentucky-bred miss earned

her first stakes win here and now boasts $137,760 in earnings to go along with her 5-2-2-0 mark.

Alwajeeha is the second registered foal out of the winning Ridaa (Seattle

Slew) and has an unraced juvenile half-sister named Tahfeez (Aljabr). The bay

lass is from the same female family as champion handicap mare Straight Deal

(Hail to Reason); Grade 1 winners Desiree (Raise a Native), Adored (Seattle

Slew), Qualify (Danzig) and Scorpion (Seattle Slew); and sires Belong to Me

(Danzig) and Skipaslew (Skip Away).