She Feels Pretty struts her stuff in the Modesty (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Kevin Kerstein/Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lael Stables’ She Feels Pretty, who capped off her 2024 campaign with two daylight Grade I victories, returned to the races in style with a 2 1/4-length victory over Gimme a Nother (SAF) in the 68th running of the $400,000 Modesty Presented by Veritas Prime for fillies and mares Friday afternoon.
Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by John Velazquez, She Feels Pretty completed the mile and an eighth on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in a course record 1:45.51. The previous record of 1:45.52 had been established Tuesday by Call Protection.
Segesta and Birdie Rose dueled for the early lead with She Feels Pretty racing in the clear a few lengths back. On the far turn, Velazquez made a three-wide move to collar the leaders and gradually kicked clear in the lane.
A three-time Grade I winner and first in six of her nine starts, She Feels Pretty is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Karokontie (JPN) out of the More Than Ready mare Summer Sweet.
She Feels Pretty returned $3.58, $2.44 and $2.10. Gimme a Nother, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $3.30 and $2.36 and finished a half-length in front of Saffron Moon, who paid $2.34 to show under Flavien Prat.
It was another 2 ½ lengths back to Segesta with Takemetothebeach and Birdie Rose following in order.
Modesty Quotes
John Velazquez (Jockey, She Feels Pretty, winner) – “My job was to keep her covered up early in the race and get her to relax. She got a little aggressive but she switched off. Down the backside, we got in the clear and she took me where I needed to be. She just really cruises out there and makes my job easy.”
Cherie DeVaux (Trainer, She Feels Pretty, winner) – “It’s great to see her back in the winner’s circle again. I gave her some time off to allow her to grow into herself. She’s bigger and stronger. She’s tenacious, she doesn’t want to get beat and she has won from 5 ½ furlongs to a mile and a quarter. So you know she is special. One of the TV guys said she’s the best turf filly in the United States. I’m biased, but I agree.”
