OZONE PARK, N.Y.— West Point Thoroughbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing and Titletown Racing Stable’s Dontlookbackatall will seek to parlay a promising career debut into stakes company when targeting next Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Matron for 2-year-olds fillies going six furlongs on the turf at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
Trained by Christophe Clement, who won the 2018 Matron with Lonely Road, the Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Peace and Justice was a two-length winner of her August 25 debut over the Mellon turf course at Saratoga, going off at 11-1 odds. Last year, West Point and Clement finished a close second in the Matron with Gal in a Rush, who finished rallied to come up a half-length shy of Bubble Rock at 29-1 odds.
“She’s had a really good couple of months,” said Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds. “We put a big circle around the Matron. We got beat a [half-length] last year in the Matron so we’re going to try and run back and get the honors. She’s a Peace and Justice filly that we bought at the sale. Bloodstock agent Steve Young bred her and I know she’s been very impressive to the Clements all summer. We’re excited to get her back.”
A $150,000 purchase at the 2022 OBS March Sale, Dontlookbackatall is out of the Arch mare Celtic Arch, making her a half-sister to graded stakes placed three-time winner En Wye Cee.
Finley also provided an update on graded stakes winner First Captain, who could target the Grade 2 Fayette on October 29 going nine furlongs at Keeneland with the year-end goal being the Grade 1 Clark on November 25 at Churchill Downs. Owned by West Point in partnership with Woodford Racing, Siena Farm and celebrity chef Bobby Flay, the 4-year-old son of Curlin, out of Grade 1-placed America, finished third in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 3 at Saratoga for Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey.
Finley said First Captain will most likely race as a 5-year-old in 2023.
“We gave some thought regarding the Woodward, but we decided to wait until the end of October to run him in the Fayette and then take a big shot at the Grade 1 Clark,” Finley said. “It looks like, at this point, he’ll run at five.”
NYRA Press Office
Photo: Dontlookbackatall breaks her maiden at Saratoga (NYRA/Coglianese)
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