Lael Stable's Exaggerated Impressive in Oakley

Lael Stable's Exaggerated Impressive in Oakley

Rose Brier Wins Bert Allen for Second Consecutive Year
 
 LAUREL, MD - Lael Stable's Exaggerated, a 3-year-old daughter of Blame who sold for $250,000 at auction, remained undefeated Saturday when she impressively drew away from nine other fillies to win the $60,000 Oakley by 4 1/2 lengths.
 
Trained by Arnaud Delacour, Exaggerated was ridden out to victory by jockey Daniel Centeno, covering a firm 5 1/2-furlong turf course in 1:02.10. Awake the Day was second while Olga Payne was another three lengths behind in third.
 
The Oakley was one of six stakes races, including the Commonwealth Oaks, presented Saturday by the Virginia Equine Alliance and run at Laurel Park.
 
Unraced as a 2-year-old, Exaggerated made her debut Aug. 16 at Laurel at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf and won by 2 1/2 lengths against nine others after stalking a :22.08 and :44.42 pace. Despite the strong debut, Delacour had some concerns about the Oakley.
 
"We didn't know how much she learned last time just because she pretty much cleared the opposition," Delacour said. "It's always a little of a worry when you go against horses who have run a lot."
 
There were no such worries Saturday, however, as Exaggerated  broke on top under Centeno and cruised past fractions of :22.70 and :45.12 on the way to an easy victory.
"She showed her speed and was very professional," Delacour said. "She was great."
Owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson were on hand to witness the filly's second win. 
 
"It's been more than we expected really to see her win two races in a row," said Roy Jackson. "Arnaud has done a great job with her and we're just very excited."
 
Rose Brier Wins Bert Allen for Second Consecutive Year
 
Panic Stable's Rose Brier drew away from six others at the head of the stretch to impressively win the $60,000 The Bert Allen for the second consecutive year. 
 
The 6-year-old gelded son of Mizzen Mast, trained by Jane Cibelli and ridden by Trevor McCarthy, has now finished first or second in 14 of 15 turf races at 1 1/16 miles. He covered the distance Saturday in 1:41.51 while finishing two lengths ahead of Cliff Hanger (G3) runner-up Special Envoy. Dannhauser was third.
 
Bred by William Backer, Rose Brier entered the Bert Allen off a second-place finish in the Speaker's Cup Stakes at Mountaineer Park. Earlier this year, Rose Brier finished fourth in the Red Bank (G3) and Tampa Bay (G3). Rose Brier has now won 10 of 29 starts - nine of 25 on the turf - for earnings of $316,326.
 
"He shows up every time, and if he gets a trip he's definitely a runner," said assistant trainer David Nunn.
 
In the $60,000 Jamestown, Nicewonder Stable's Away We Go, a 15-1 longshot who finished second in her debut at Timonium, rallied down the stretch to win by a neck over Crypto's Holiday. Cherokee Cousin was third.
 
A 2-year-old daughter of Tizway trained by Rodney Jenkins, Away We Go covered a 5 1/2 furlong turf course in 1:03.94. The exacta of Away We Go and Crypto's Holiday (40-1) returned $1,079.60.
 
Harlan Crossman's Complete St., seventh last time out in the All Brandy, drove down the stretch to win the $60,000 Brookmeade Stakes by a half-length over Magician's Vanity. Secret Or Not was third and favored Seeking Her Glory fifth.
 
Complete St., a 5-year-old mare trained by Lilith Boucher and ridden by Horacio Karamanos, covered a 1 1/16 mile turf course in 1:42.48. The daughter of St Averil has won five of 22 start, three across the turf, for earnings of $171,500.
 
Two Notch Road made it look easy while winning the $60,000 Punch Line for the second consecutive year. The 8-year-old gelding, trained by Glenn Thompson and ridden by Julian Pimentel, covered the 5 1/2 furlong course in 1:02.23.