Wet conditions appeared to contribute to several favorites losing graded stakes June 6 at Saratoga Race Course, but rain and damp ground could not stop She Feels Pretty. She pushed her win streak to four races in taking the $750,000 New York Stakes (G1T).
Lael Stables' talented 4-year-old filly, previously a winner over firm and good turf, is also capable of handling yielding turf, even if it is not her favorite type of ground. Launching a wide bid on the second turn after stalking the pace of the 1 3/16-mile race under regular rider John Velazquez, she surged past a pace-pressing Beach Bomb to score by half-length. She was timed in 2:00.76—far off Didia's time of 1:52.29 in this race last year—over the rain-softened ground following splits of :24.27, :51.30, and 1:17.56 set by Edict, who faded to sixth.
Winning trainer Cherie DeVaux said after the race that she questioned whether Friday's conditions were to her filly's liking, believing She Feels Pretty persevered.
Velazquez, a Hall of Famer, won his fourth New York Stakes. He said She Feels Pretty "was not loving (the ground) at all; she is just that good that she overcomes that."
"She's a pro and showed that today," DeVaux said.
After going three wide into the first turn, She Feels Pretty was able to dip back into the two path to have "cover"—drafting behind horses, in this case behind Beach Bomb. Such trips conserve her energy for a late surge when she is shown daylight in the clear.
She paid $3 to win as the 1-2 favorite in the field of seven.
Beach Bomb, a 17-1 longshot trained by Graham Motion, fought stubbornly against the winner to be second. She finished four lengths in front of 6-1 Bellezza in third.
She Feels Pretty recorded her fourth grade 1 victory by capturing the New York Stakes following earlier success in the 2024 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland, the 2024 American Oaks (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, and the 2023 Natalma Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine. She is 7-1-2 in 10 starts overall with earnings of $1,784,957. She is unbeaten in four starts since racing with blinkers.
A versatile filly with wins from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles, She Feels Pretty may get a chance to run even longer later in the year. This fall's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) is 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar—a trip DeVaux believes she is capable of handling.
Her summer goal is the 1 1/8-mile Diana Stakes (G1T) July 12 at Saratoga, she indicated.
Bred in Kentucky by Payson Stud out of the More Than Ready mare Summer Sweet, She Feels Pretty was acquired by Lael Stables—the racing operation of Roy and Gretchen Jackson—for $240,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Stone Farm consignment.
"I'm so privileged to be able to train a filly like this and to share it with the Jacksons," DeVaux said.
She Feels Pretty is one of two stakes winners for Gainesway stallion Karakontie this year, joining John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes winner Sugoi. Karakontie, a 14-year-old son of Bernstein, was a group 1 winner on grass as a juvenile in France and a year later captured the 2014 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T). He stands for $15,000 at Gainesway near Lexington.
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