Inquiry by Brad Cox, trainer of Vault, who finished second
BENSALEM, Pa. – Daniel Lopez and George Chestnut’s Chub Wagon answered two-turn test successfully as she held off a late run from Vault to take the $200,000 Plum Pretty Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred filly and mares.
Starting from the sixth post position, Chub Wagon stalked pacesetter Precious from the outside fractions of :24 3/5, :48 4/5, and 1:12 3/5 before taking the lead halfway around the far turn. The Guadalupe Preciado trainee widened in midstretch, drifted out late under left-handed whip and held on gamely coming away with a half-length victory under regular jockey Jomar Torres.
“Good trip first time for her first time long,” Torres said “She was relaxed and nice. She
got a little tired I love that horse. I think she got out a little, but not too much. I didn’t think she would come down.”
Brad Cox trainee Vault, who finished second, settled far behind, advanced inside to the stretch, angled out and made a gradual late gain. Third place Marion Francis, also trained by Cox, raced just off the leaders outside and continued willingly while moving evenly in the stretch.
Chub Wagon the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44 4/5. The 4-year-old filly also survived a trainer inquiry as she drifted out as her and Vault approached the finish line.
“We told the kid [Jomar Torres] when you come at the top of the stretch, try as best as
you can because the top horses are going to be closing,” Preciado said “I was not worried about the horse going long. She ran very hard.”
Chub Wagon paid $4.20, 2.80 and 2.20. Vault paid $3.00 and 2.40 while Marion Francis paid 2.80.
Chub Wagon, whose lone defeat came in the Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial Stakes with a second-place finish, has now won 10 of 11 races.
Ninetypercentbrynn, Precious, Promised Storm, Trolley Ride and Amen Sylvia complete the order of finish.
Edited Press Release
Photo: Chub Wagon #6 with Jomar Torres riding won the $200,000 Plum Pretty at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania on September 25, 2021. Photo By Bill Denver /EQUI-PHOTO
