Amy’s Challenge Crushes $100,000 American Beauty

HOT SPRINGS, AR –  Amy’s Challenge broke to the front and never looked back Saturday’s $100,000 American Beauty Stakes at Oaklawn Park. This was the first win since August for the 4-year-old daughter of Artie Schiller but comes as her fifth career win in nine starts and her third stakes victory.

Amy’s Challenge broke well and immediately gained the lead on the rail. Jessica Krupnick was second best and drew even with Amy’s Challenge while Swing and Sway sat just off the pair in third. The 4-5 favorite, Vertical Oaks, sat midpack but never was much of a threat and eventually finished eighth. As they approached the turn, Jessica Krupnick slowly fell back from Amy’s Challenge who never let up and eventually finished nearly six lengths ahead of the rest of the field setting fractions of :21.43, :44.48, and :56.74 in the process. Swing and Sway looked to be second best as they hit the top of the stretch but the late-running Cathedral Reader got up for second ahead of Swing and Sway in third. Sister Nation finished fourth.

“She’s just a Cadillac,” said winning jockey Alex Canchari. “I was just a passenger on her.”

Amy’s Challenge returned $9.00 to win, $5.20 to place, and $4.80 to show. Cathedral Reader brought back $17.40 to place and $11.60 to show, while Swing and Sway paid $7.40 to show.

Scratched: Student Body