HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Marylou Whitney Stables’ aptly named Pretty Birdie went gate-to-wire to impressively win Saturday’s $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies before an on-track crowd of 31,000.
Ridden by the meet’s current leading jockey David Cabrera, Pretty Birdie was quickest away from the gate and proceeded to lead the field through early fractions of :21 3/5 and :45 for the first half mile. The winner had plenty left in reserve for the final stages and drew off to win by 2 ¾ lengths over Hypersport in 1:09 flat for six furlongs over a fast track. Wicked Halo, the 2-1 favorite, was third.
“We’ve thought this filly was very talented for a very long time and were disappointed in her last two races, obviously,” trainer Norm Casse said, pointing to sound defeats in her prior two stakes attempts. “But, we kind of got to work after her last race, trying to teach her to relax a little bit. Even though she was on the lead today, she did it in a much more reserved, controlled manner. It makes a much bigger difference for her getting into her normal rhythm.”
Pretty Birdie, a homebred filly by Bird Song, won for the third time in five career starts and has now earned $236,738. She returned $9.00, $4.80 and $3.00 as the 7-2 third choice in the field of six.
Live racing resumes Sunday with a 1 p.m. first post.
Purple Martin Quotes:
Winning jockey David Cabrera, Pretty Birdie: “The last workout, we worked her from behind horses and we came into this race with the idea that if we break on top, we’ll take it. But if we break from behind or try to get her to relax from off horses, we were also pretty confident about that. The other day, we worked her behind horses and, man, when I got her to the outside she rolled. So, I was pretty confident. She broke so sharp, so I thought, ‘You know what? I’m just going to take it and try to get her to relax’ and that’s what she did. The trainer, he knows what he’s doing. It worked our perfect.”
Winning trainer Norm Casse, Pretty Birdie: “We’ve thought this filly was very talented for a very long time and were disappointed in her last two races, obviously. But, we kind of got to work after her last race, trying to teach her to relax a little bit. Even though she was on the lead today, she did it in a much more reserved, controlled manner. It makes a much bigger difference for her getting into her normal rhythm.
“I’m really excited and proud. She trains like a really good horse in the morning. She’s thrown in some clunkers, so we’ve tried to do some things to figure her out. It feels good when you do.”
Trainer Ingrid Mason, second with Hypersport: “She ran good. I’m happy with the ride. He (Tiago Pereira) rode her perfect. There’s always next time.”
Pretty Birdie (Coady Photography)
