Fred Bradley, Buff Bradley, Carl Hurst and Brent Burns’ Groupie Doll took the lead in midstretch and drew off to a 3-length victory over She’s Cheeky to win the 11th
running of the $300,000 Vinery Madison (G1) for fillies and mares
before a sun-splashed crowd of 10,421 on Thursday afternoon at
Keeneland.
Trained
by Buff Bradley and ridden by Rajiv Maragh, Groupie Doll covered the
seven furlongs on the main track in 1:23.76. The victory was worth
$180,000 and increased Groupie Doll’s earnings to $488,756 with a record
of 12-5-3-2.
Racing in blinkers for the first time in her career, Groupie Doll was reserved off the pace set by Home Sweet Aspen, who led the field of eight through an opening quarter-mile in :22.67.
Approaching the far turn, Whipsaw City (FR) made a three-wide move to take the lead and favored Musical Romance
went with her to complete the first half-mile in :46.32. Maragh, who
had Groupie Doll in the clear on the outside, moved with the top two,
drew on even terms at the head of the stretch before spurting clear.
Groupie
Doll, a 4-year-old daughter of Bowman’s Band out of the Silver Deputy
mare Deputy Doll and bred by the Bradleys, returned $9.80, $4.80 and
$4.20. She’s Cheeky, ridden by Robby Albarado, returned $14.40 and $6.80
with Ariana D, ridden by Jose Lezcano, finishing 3 ½ lengths back in third and returning $6.20 to show.
Musical
Romance, the champion female sprinter of 2011, finished a length back
in fourth and was followed in order by Whipsaw City, Sugarinthemorning, Whisked Away and Home Sweet Aspen.
According
to Trakus, which records individual sectional times and distance
covered for races at Keeneland, Groupie Doll covered more ground than
the next five finishers and had the fastest final furlong (:12.72) and
three-eighths (:37.29).