NEWS
Wickedly Perfect steps up to graded stakes win in Sorrento
Posted: Friday, August 06, 2010 11:40 PM
WICKEDLY PERFECT
Benoit & Associates photo
For video of the Sorrento Stakes, click here.
by Tim Nichols
While she had to work a bit harder than in her career debut win, Wickedly Perfect successfully handled a step up in competition on Friday with a one-length win in the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes (G3) at Del Mar.
The Congrats filly entered off a facile 4¾-length romp in a five-furlong maiden special weight race on June 27 at Hollywood Park. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Wickedly Perfect won for the second time in as many starts after covering 6½-furlongs on the synthetic Polytrack surface in 1:17.18.
Jockey Rafael Bejarano staked a ground-saving spot in third for Wickedly Perfect as Landaluce Stakes winner Dawnie Macho led the field eight two-year-old fillies through a quarter mile in :21.89 and a half-mile in :44.90.
Wickedly Perfect launched her bid from the outside and surged to the front, holding off the rapidly closing A Z Warrior in the final sixteenth for the win.
“Rafael was up pretty close early, and when I saw the fast fractions I figured Rafael must feel like he’s really loaded,” O’Neill said. “He’s a world-class rider so you go with that. He knew he had a lot of horse.”
A Z Warrior, who entered off a career-debut win, finished a head in front of third-place finisher and Landaluce runner-up Izshelegal for second.
Bred in Florida by Y-Lo Racing Stables, Wickedly Perfect boosted her earnings to $114,600 with her second victory and became the second stakes winner for freshman sire Congrats. She is out of Wickedly Wise, by Tactical Cat.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Tim Nichols is internet content editor for Thoroughbred Times
