Miss Technicality Dominates $400,000 Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies

FRANKLIN, KY – John McCormack’s homebred Miss Technicality took command in the final 1/4-mile and drew off to a dominating victory in Saturday’s $400,000 Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Kentucky Downs.

Bumped after breaking from post 7 as the even-money favorite under Julien Leparoux, Miss Technicality settled towards the rear while City Diva lead for the opening 6 furlongs. Split out wide in the stretch, Miss Technicality ran down the pace-setter and drew off sharply before Leparoux geared down the Christophe Clement trainee to win the mile-long turf event by 6 lengths in a final time of 1:43.51.

“It’s not easy to just ship in an run on this track,” said Leparoux, the defending Kentucky Downs riding champion who capped a three-win day. “She showed a lot of ability, and she’s a pro. She won (her debut) at Belmont, but I’ve been breezing her the last several times at Saratoga. She was working very well. The goal with Christophe was to come here. He loved her, and she showed a lot of ability. She won very easy. She traveled very good. It was just whenever I wanted to ask her, and she kicked on very nicely, which is a good feeling to have on this track.”

Always the bridesmaid, Lightscameraaction settled for second by a length over a weakening City Diva. Noble Love necked out fourth over My Wynter Rose, while Lucky Girasol did the same for sixth over Two Shakes. Completing the order of finish were Zabava, Sexyama, Rogue Too, My Jilly, and War Ballad.

https://youtu.be/eAiiZzz_gtg

Miss Technicality’s win was her second in as many starts and increased her career bankroll to $275,640, thanks in large part to the $230,460 winner’s share of the purse.

“From Christophe’s point of view, he said, ‘John, I think I like this filly more than the way you talk about her. I like this filly; she’s been training well, and she’s improved in her training from her maiden win at Belmont,’” said McCormack, who co-owns with Namcook Stables. “And we were confident in the way she’s bred that she’d get farther. She’s a relaxed filly by nature and a kind filly to be around. She has lovely breeding, with 40 years of engineering by the Phipps family. We’ve tapped into that and (are) grateful to have that opportunity.”

Miss Technicality returned $4 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.20 to show. Lightscameraaction brought back $4.60 to place and $3.40 to show, while City Diva paid $4.40 to show.