Sweeping Paddy Draws Away in Impressive G3 Regret Stakes Win

LOUISVILLE, KY – William Pacella, Frank Jones, and Frank Shoop’s Sweeping Paddy tracked the early leaders before launching a four-wide move in the stretch to take over and quickly draw away for a 3 1/2-length win over 5-2 favorite Proctor’s Ledge in Saturday night’s 48th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Regret Stakes Presented by Cox’s Smokers Outlets.

The Regret annually pays homage to the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby in 1915. Undefeated in three starts as a 2-year-old, Regret made her 3-year-old debut in the Derby and won in wire-to-wire fashion by 3 lengths.

Sweeping Paddy, ridden by Luis Saez and trained Dale Romans, ran 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:47.62 – the third-fastest clocking in the stakes race’s history – while defeating 11 other 3-year-old fillies.

Like a Hurricane sprinted clear to set the pace – :23.30, :47.04, and 1:11.62 – with Sweeping Paddy racing in third, about 7 1/2 lengths behind down the backstretch. She proved to be much the best in the stretch over Proctor’s Ledge, who rallied from far back to get second. The top two most recently finished third and fourth in the Grade 3, $150,000 Edgewood Presented by Forcht Bank on Kentucky Oaks Day.

“The pace was a little bit quicker today than the last start, and she just came flying at the end,” said Saez. “We sat in a perfect spot the entire way around and did everything great.”

Sweeping Paddy improved her record to 8-2-1-2 with $186,660 in earnings. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Paddy O’Prado is out of the Romans-trained mare C. S. Royce.

“This horse is so special to us,” Romans said. “I’ve trained her mother, grandmother, and father. What a great win for us and the owners. She just came flying home at the end. I thought Luis gave her a perfect ride. What more could you ask for?”

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Summer Luck finished a length behind in third. Chubby Star, Fizzy Friday, Sameeha, Starr Bear, La Manta Gris, Savannah Belle, Blame the Law, Anothertequilashot, and Like a Hurricane completed the order of finish.

Sweeping Paddy returned $9.20, $4.60, and $4. Proctor’s Ledge brought back $4.20 and $3.60, while Summer Luck paid $7.20 to show.

Additional Race Quotes

Jockey Corey Lanerie, Proctor’s Ledge: “I had a good trip. Got there, got out at the top of the lane, just couldn’t get there in time.”

Trainer Brendan Walsh, Proctor’s Ledge: “She ran great, can’t be disappointed, you know. Just second again.” (Walsh trains Honorable Duty, the second-place finisher in the Stephen Foster Handicap, which was the previous race.)

Assistant Trainer Norm Casse, Summer Luck: “We’ll keep figuring her out. It wasn’t a bad effort at all for her first start on the grass. We know she’s a talented horse, we just have to figure out what she likes best.”

Jockey Florent Geroux, Summer Luck: “The filly ran great, first time on the turf. Just got beat today. Great trip. No excuse.”

Churchill Downs