LEXINGTON, KY – Trainer Kenny McPeek’s Simply Ravishing broke on top and lived up to her name with a dominating performance in Friday’s $350,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.
The Alcibiades is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Simply Ravishing receiving an automatic berth in the Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland this November.
Simply Ravishing was the 2/1 co-favorite as she broke well from the far outside post 7 under Luis Saez, who safely crossed her over toward the rail heading into the clubhouse turn.
While Thoughtfully and Crazy Beautiful (the other co-favorite) gave closest watch, Simply Ravishing posted opening fractions of :24.43 and :48.59 down the backstretch and into the far turn.
Widening her advantage as she straightened for home, Simply Ravishing drew off in the stretch before crossing 6 1/4 lengths much the best, completing the 1 1/16-mile fast dirt route in 1:43.58.
“I knew two very fast horses were inside,” Saez said. “(I thought) Let’s break from there and see what they’re doing. She breaks so sharp; she was right there. It was easy. We took (the lead). She was traveling pretty good. I felt like I had a lot of horse all the way. When we came to the straight, she just took off. She did it pretty easy, like normal. Like nothing. It was amazing. She’s a very good filly.”
Crazy Beautiful, the second of three McPeek entries, took second by 1 1/4 lengths over Travel Column.
Completing the order of finish came Thoughtfully, Oliviaofthedesert (McPeek’s third runner), Xtrema, and Gramercy.
Simply Ravishing’s win kept her perfect record intact through 3 starts, having broken her maiden over the Saratoga turf in early August before dominating a fast off-turf edition of the P. G. Johnson Stakes. The New York-bred daughter of Laoban, purchased for $50,000 as a yearling, has now earned $304,600 for co-owners Harold Lerner, Magdalena Racing, and Nehoc Stables.
“I don’t think we know how good she is,” said assistant trainer Alan Shell. “She’s won on turf, dirt, going short, going long. It’s just real exciting.”
Simply Ravishing returned $6.40 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.60 to show. Crazy Beautiful brought back $3.20 to place and $2.40 to show, while Travel Column paid $3.40 to show.
