from the USTA Communications Department

Lexington, KY — James Avritt, Sr.’s Precocious Beauty continued her impressive freshman campaign when she defeated a field of nine filly pacers in an $85,900 division of the Bluegrass Stakes on Friday night (Sept. 27) at The Red Mile.

Nigel Soult photo

Precocious Beauty was a 1:51 winner for driver Doug McNair.

Doug McNair piloted the Art Major-Precious Beauty miss to her fifth straight victory and her sixth in eight lifetime starts. The Gregg McNair trainee has now earned $402,792.

Act Now (Ron Pierce) was the early leader in this race, taking the field to the opening quarter in :27.1 before yielding to Beach Gal (Scott Zeron) at the :54.2 half-mile marker.

Beach Gal continued to lead at the 1:24.3 three-quarter pole, but Precocious Beauty ($3.00) was finally up to challenge after sitting fifth for most of the mile.

She blew by the leader midway down the stretch and powered home in a quick 1:51. Southwind Silence (Yannick Gingras) rallied to finish second while Beach Gal ended up third.

“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” was the initial response from owner/breeder Avritt in the winner’s circle. “Hard for me to believe, I’ll tell you that.

“I’ve known Gregg for years. He bought a colt off of me many years ago, I think a Matt’s Scooter colt, and I introduced myself to him at that time and kept in touch with him over the years and he’s trained horses for me.

“He does a great job and I can’t thank him enough, or Susie, the lady that takes cares of this filly. And Doug’s done a great job driving her. I just can’t thank them enough.”

The $86,900 second division of the Bluegrass freshman filly pace went to Frank Bellino’s She’s Da Bomb, who overcame post position 10 to win in a personal best 1:50.3.

Jody Jamieson was in the bike for trainer Tony O’Sullivan as the daughter of Art Major-Armbro Bombay won for the fifth time in six career starts. She has earned $170,096 in her career.

She’s Da Bomb ($4.20) defeated Allstar Rating (Yannick Gingras) with Lasting Appeal (John Campbell) third.

“Obviously I wasn’t happy to see the ten hole,” said Jamieson. “But Lexington is a different animal. It’s way more forgiving, the surface. The ten hole here isn’t near as detrimental as it is at the Meadowlands, or Mohawk or Woodbine, absolutely for sure.

“This filly is a freak creature. She’s unreal. I didn’t use her much before the half, but she did a lot of work from the half on. She was just waiting on them in the stretch, like she’s not all done.

“I’m ecstatic to have the chance to keep driving her and hopefully it’s going to be a real productive year in the next couple of weeks.”

Another 1:50.3 clocking was posted in the $86,900 third division as Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband’s Uffizi Hanover (David Miller) came from far back to defeat Gallie Bythe Beach (John Campbell) and I Need Hotstuff (Yannick Gingras).

The Jimmy Takter trainee, a daughter of Well Said-Up Front Dragonfly, won for the first time in eight lifetime efforts, with her share of the purse lifting her career earnings to $90,565. Uffizi Hanover paid $14.20 to win.

“I raced her at Hoosier last week (a second in a division of the Kentuckiana Stallion Management) and I liked her real well,” said Miller.

“I wasn’t happy with my trip here; she didn’t want to go up to the gate. She got away back. They were kind of moving along but our cover stalled out. On the last turn I didn’t think much of her chances really of winning. But I pulled her out and she hit another gear and took off.

“I thought for sure I was too far out of it there, but she set sail coming for home and she got by them.”