In a dramatic edition of the April 4 Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, Eclatant ran down Grand Job in the stretch to get the win in the $629,357 event.
The Brad Cox-trained filly broke sharply under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and settled just off pacesetter R Disaster, who set fractions of :21.95 and :44.68. She continued to travel in hand, edging closer to the leader as they entered the turn. As they hit the stretch, one of the two Bill Mott trainees, Grand Job, took command with Eclatant hot on her heels. The two of them pulled well clear of their competition and battled down the stretch. Eclatant, so game, got the edge and hit the wire a nose in front in a final time of 1:21.84 for the 7 furlongs on a fast track. They were 6 lengths clear of R Disaster, who finished third.
Post-time favorite Clicquot rated midpack but weakened and was eased to finish last of eight. Mott's other runner, third choice Ragtime, never showed interest in catching the leader and finished seventh.
"I just tried to follow instructions to get behind the speed," winning rider Ortiz said. "The filly helped big time because she broke sharp. After that I just took my time. I was able to get her out at the three-eighths pole, which I did, and I felt good at that point to go ahead and start working on her, and she got there."
Eclatant won the Forward Gal Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park as a 3-year-old. She had two off-the-board finishes after that, leading to an eight-month layoff. She scored in her 4-year-old debut Feb. 15 at Gulfstream, and now the Madison in her second start back.
"I want to start by thanking Stonestreet for bringing her back at the age of 4," Cox said after the win. "I didn't know if she was going to get there. (The finish) was a head bob, and it went our way. I'm very proud of her, obviously. I thought her run off the layoff was huge at Gulfstream. I thought we'd go to a grade 2, grade 3, but (grade 1) was the right number. The time did her some good since the last win, and she responded big time today with a great run."
Eclatant paid $9.58 for the win. Owned and bred by Stonestreet Stables, she became perennial leading sire Into Mischief 's 30th grade 1 winner. Into Mischief stands for $250,000 at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky.
"I'm so proud (she won) from the one hole. It was awesome," said Barbara Banke, owner of Stonestreet. "She could not be doing any better. She looked terrific, and Brad has done a really great job with her. Irad managed to get the trip from the one hole and get her there. That was fabulous. She really deserves the grade 1 and I hope there are more in her future."
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