NEWS
Informed Decision game in Windward victory
Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:53 PM
INFORMED DECISION
Renee Torbit/Coady Photography
To view the Windward Stakes, click here.
by Mike Curry
After setting a leisurely pace in the $97,500 Windward Stakes on Tuesday night at Presque Isle Downs, reigning champion female sprinter Informed Decision turned back a bid from runner-up Hooh Why in the stretch and shook free to a 1 1/2-length victory under Julien Leparoux.
Informed Decision was sent off as the overwhelming 3-to-10 favorite in a field that was reduced to five after six entrants were scratched. Sensing little early speed, Leparoux sent Informed Decision to the lead and she set the tempo through a half-mile in :49.86. Hooh Why rallied to challenge Informed Decision in the stretch, but the five-year-old Monarchos mare dug in gamely and powered clear.
She covered one mile in 1:38.53 on the synthetic Tapeta Footings surface to improve to nine wins from ten career starts on synthetic tracks.
The Windward was only her second start in a race longer than seven furlongs. She finished fourth, beaten by 15 lengths, in the 2008 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at a mile on dirt.
Trained by Jonathan Sheppard for owner Augustin Stable, Informed Decision has earned $1,952,759 with 13 wins from 18 starts. She won three Grade 1 races last year during her championship run, including the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1).
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
For an Equibase chart, click here.
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Delrene, Carlsbad, CA on July 30, 2010 at 12:57 AM
Congratulations to this beautiful grey horse. She is making her Daddy proud.
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Posted by: Robert, Louisville, KY on July 28, 2010 at 12:54 PM
The author almost seems shocked this mare won past 7 furlongs. She is bred for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 miles. I would love to see her stretch out more often. I would hazzard to bet she does not get bred to many sprinters in her broodmare career??
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Posted by: Bellwether, Chesapeake, VA on July 28, 2010 at 01:02 AM
LAST TIME WE CHECKED MR. SHEPPARD WAS A PRETTY FAIR TRAINER...ty...
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Posted by: Mimi, San Antonio, TX on July 27, 2010 at 10:04 PM
Informed Decision is a nice mare. MAYBE she'd win at more than seven furlongs more often if she wasn't leading the pace the whole race. If they kept her stalking -more-or-less- she'd do better at longer distances.
And her sire Monarchos won the Kentucky Derby at a rate almost as fast as Secretariat, that was cool.
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