Lexington, KY – Holy secured back-to-back Grand Circuit victories at The Red Mile after she thrusted to the top in the closing strides to snag the $163,000 Grade 3 International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies, sponsored by The Cuddy Farms, on Thursday (Oct. 8).
Leaving from post 3, driver Todd McCarthy settled Holy into fifth while Sister Girl Blues (driven by Dexter Dunn) brushed by early leader Aestas (Andy McCarthy) to grab command to a :27.4 first quarter. Sister Girl Blues coasted up the backside to a :55.4 half, at which point Todd McCarthy tipped outside and pressed uncovered up the rim. Holy caught brief cover rounding by three-quarters in 1:23.3 when Aestas pulled from the pocket and edged past Sister Girl Blues, but then Todd McCarthy swung three wide into the stretch and towered over her peers to snatch the win by a neck in a lifetime-best 1:50.3. Aestas settled for second while JK Alwaysbpositive (Tim Tetrick) rallied from a second-over trip for third and Cleveland Darby chased at the inside from a ground-saving trip for fourth.
“We did and we always have [believed in her],” said Adam Bowden, who owns Holy through Diamond Creek Racing. “She’s a Sweet Lou-A Rocknroll Dance cross—we did it a couple years ago with Cannibal and Confederate, and here we are again.”
Brett Pelling trains Holy, a homebred for Diamond Creek. The filly, scoring a 13-1 upset with a 1:51.3 effort in the Grade 3 Bluegrass last week, has now won three times from eight starts and banked $168,090. She paid $24.28 to win.