Aunt Henny holds on in Virginia Oaks

Erdenheim Farm's AUNT HENNY (Hennessy) was sent off the even-money choice in

Saturday's $200,000

Virginia

Oaks at Colonial Downs, and ran like a favorite should, holding off a

fast-closing May Night (Gulch) by a nose at the wire. With Rafael Bejarano

aboard, the Michael Matz-trained miss ran nine furlongs on the firm turf

in 1:47 and paid $4, $2.60 and $2.60 to her supporters.

Festival Queen (Chester House) was quickest to the lead, setting splits of

:23 3/5, :47 and 1:10 1/5 while Bejarano had Aunt Henny settled just in behind

in third. Saving ground while hugging the rail along the backstretch, the

sophomore lass came out a bit entering the turn, circling the longtime leader

and Art Show (Out of Place), who had battled with Festival Queen throughout. The

pace took its toll on those two, though, and Aunt Henny swept to the front

through a mile in 1:34 2/5.

Appearing an easy winner, she began to gear it down a bit before the wire,

but found May Night coming with a rush to her outside. The wire came just in

time, as Aunt Henny got her nose down on the bob to earn the second stakes

victory of her career.

May Night was a length up on Art Show at the line, giving back $4.40 and

$3.20 at 5-1 while show was worth $4.40 at 11-1. The exotics returned $17.60

(exacta), $130 (trifecta) and $206.10 ($1 superfecta) (1-6-10-3). Next under the

line were Dancing Band (Dixieland Band), Hostess (Chester House), Fiery Dancer

(Atticus), High Moment (High Yield), Festival Queen, Royal Descent (Bishop

Northcraft) and Runaway Nell (Down the Aisle). Empress Pegasus (Fusaichi Pegasus)

and Julie B (Eastover Court) were scratched.

Bred in Kentucky by Christopher and Patricia Ella, Aunt Henny moved her

mark to 8-3-2-2 and more than doubled her earnings to $223,710. Since switching

to the turf three prior to this one, the chestnut broke her maiden, ran second

by a neck in an allowance and captured the Herecomesthebride S. (G3), all at

Gulfstream Park. Aunt Henny brought $285,000 as a Fasig-Tipton February

two-year-old and is out of the winning Ms. Patty B (*Grey Dawn II), who also has

an unnamed yearling filly by Alphabet Soup and a 2006 colt by Chief Seattle.