Friday, October 4, 2013
My Conquestadory overcame a troubled trip to win the $400,000 Alcibiades S. (G1) at Keeneland by 1 ¾ lengths in her final start before the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.
The daughter of Artie Schiller was sold by Eisaman Equine at the OBS 2-year-old Select sale for $240,000, where she was bought by her current connections.
Friday's victory in the opening day feature didn't come easy by any means for the Conquest Stables colorbearer. Ridden by Eurico da Silva, was near the back of the 12-horse field after a poor break. Da Silva bided his time until the final turn, and his filly began to pick off horses rapidly.
But he had to check in traffic just outside the quarter-mile pole, then swing four wide for racing room coming into the stretch. When the opening finally appeared My Conquestadory inhaled her foes a drew away powerfully, with an enthusiastic da Silva pumping his fist as he cruised under the wire.
“She didn’t break sharp, but she was very, very relaxed,' da Silva recounted. “I was worried in the middle of the turn because there were so many fillies in front of me but every time I needed her, she was just galloping. I was waiting for a hole, and every time it opened a little bit, I put her in. In the stretch when we had a free run, she just ran so easy. She’s a very nice filly.”
When asked if the Breeders' Cup was indeed the plan, trainer Mark Casse was very sure in his response.
“Definitely (we're going to California). We came here because I said I wanted to get her some experience – didn’t know we were going to get that much experience, but I’m glad to have it.”
A winner of the Summer S. (G2) over colts at Woodbine in her only other start, My Conquestadory earned $240,000 for the Alcibiades win and increased earnings to $355,908.