Eclipse Sophomore Fillies Making Their Mark From Coast To Coast
The Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners three-year-old fillies Feathered and Capriana made the followers of the baby blue and black silks very proud Saturday afternoon. Feathered, a daughter of Indian Charlie, finished second in the $400,000 American Oaks (Grade I) at Santa Anita beaten only three-quarters of a length behind the prohibitive favorite, Spanish Queen. Just one hour earlier in the day, Capriana, a New York-bred filly by Street Boss, exhibited a high degree of guts and determination winning her racing debut at Belmont Park.
Feathered was victorious in her first time on turf in the $150,000 Edgewood Stakes (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day — May 1. She then shipped to Saratoga before travelling across the country to run in the American Oaks. Feathered broke sharply under Tyler Baze and ETP President Aron Wellman summed up the proceedings best saying, “Feathered made the lead but was pressed every step of the 10 furlongs through legitimate fractions.
“Feathered never got a breather and looked like she had every right to get swallowed up at the top of the lane, but found a second, third and fourth gear and wind to battle on courageously to run Spanish Queen to the wire succumbing to a brave ¾-length defeat while earning 2nd money ($80,000) and her 3rd Grade 1-placing”.
Feathered, purchased at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training in March of 2014, has raced nine times competing in five different states. Along with her victory in the Edgewood Stakes, Feathered has finished second in the $350,000 Starlet Stakes (Grade 1), third in the $500,000 Frizette Stakes (Grade 1) and fourth in the $2 Million 14 Hands Vinery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1). Feathered has hit the board in seven of her nine lifetime starts accumulating earnings of $480,974.
Being a Graded Stakes winner on turf and Grade 1-placed on grass along with being Grade 1-placed on dirt puts Feathered in the conversation when talking about the top-tier three-year-old fillies in the nation.
Capriana, purchased at Saratoga as a $55,000 yearling at the New York-bred sale, has been a project well worth waiting on. Aron Wellman commented, “It was a long time coming, but Capriana made it worth the wait as she delivered on all the promise she’d shown for the past year by overcoming a logic defying trip to win her debut in impressive fashion. For this filly to do what she did today on debut, and conquering the various obstacles in her path, is nothing short of impressive.”
Capriana was squeezed from both sides at the start and had to take back sharply. While the race was on the grass, there was sandy kickback this filly had never been exposed to and it took a while to get comfortable. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez angled her out seven wide at the top of the stretch and Capriana would not be denied getting up in the shadow of the wire to win by a neck.
This filly showed she has an exciting future in the New York-bred ranks and also showed the talent indicting an equally bright future against open company.
Both Feathered and Capriana are trained by Todd Pletcher.
BELIEVE BIG!!