Anne's Beauty Snaps Skid In Duchess Stakes

Courtesy: WEG / Michael Burns Photography

Anne's Beauty snapped a three-race losing streak by capturing her first victory of 2011 in the $150,000 Duchess Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday.

Elusive Pearl broke the best of them all in the seven-furlong sprint for three-year-old fillies, with Honey Chile right behind her. Anne's Beauty, on the other hand, did not have a good start as she bumped with Our Lady in Red and would start the race at the back of the pack. Elusive Pearl continued to lead in an opening quarter of 23.44. Along the backstretch, Anne's Beauty recovered from her bad start and began to maneuver her way through the middle of the field, settling into fourth position. Meanwhile, Honey Chile found herself in the lead as she slipped to the front along the rail and opened up a slight edge on Elusive Pearl. The opening half mile was completed in 46.00.

In the turn, Honey Chile and Elusive Pearl opened up by two lengths on the rest of the field, but Anne's Beauty began to make her move. At the top of the stretch, Honey Chile still led, with Elusive Pearl second and Anne's Beauty continued to chip away at the lead in third. In the stretch, it was just a three-horse race and Anne's Beauty would pass Honey Chile in the final sixteenth, pulling away to win by two lengths in 1:22.83. Honey Chile would finish second with Elusive Pearl in third.

"The first half was pretty slow, but it worked out perfect," said the winning jockey Patrick Husbands. "By the time I reached the five-eighths pole, I was on the outside and I was sitting on a lot of horse. She did everything professionally. When I got after her at the top of the lane, she kicked on."

Anne's Beauty improved her career record to three wins, one second and two thirds in seven career starts and has earned $261,876 for owner Robert Smithen. Anne's Beauty has a perfect in-the-money percentage at the seven-furlong distance with two wins and two thirds in four tries.

Anne's Beauty paid $6.20, $3.60, $2.60 combining with Honey Child ($5.60, $4.00) for a $6.30 (5-3) exactor. A 5-3-7 (Elusive Pearl, $4.70 to show) triactor was worth $146.30.

Posted in: Woodbine