Augustin
Stable’s Coup carried John Velazquez to his third winner on Friday’s
Black-Eyed Susan Day card, capturing the $100,000 Hilltop Stakes at
Pimlico Race Course with a strong stretch run.
Seanchai and Anna Sophia battled for the lead in the 1 1/16 -mile
test on the firm turf but could not hold off Coup in the run to the
finish line. Coup prevailed by a length over Seanchai while running the
distance in 1:42.71. Ainsley finished third.
Trained
by Graham Motion, Coup had broken her maiden in her previous race at
Gulfstream Park on a sloppy main track. The daughter of Empire Maker
paid $5 to win.
Hilltop Stakes Quotes
Graham Motion (winning trainer, Coup)
– “She ran super. She ran like I hoped she would. She doesn’t want to
get to the lead too early because she gets to looking around like she
did in Florida. Johnny rode her confidently.”
John Velazquez (winning jockey, Coup)
– “She did it pretty easy, kind of stalking the speed. When I pulled
her out she was there. She takes the lead and she wants to wait, so
there’s more there than what she gave me. I think she’ll get better.”
Leigh Delacour (trainer, Seanchai, 2nd) -- “Kendrick rode a winning ride. It was a solid pace. She ran good.”
Mike Smith (jockey, beaten favorite, Anna Sophia) – “She broke well, very relaxed. That extra sixteenth of a mile might be stretching it.”