By Bloodhorse.com
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Apr. 6, 2019) — A trip from her Southern California base paid dividends April 6 for Spiced Perfection as she prevailed in a stretch duel to win the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1) by a neck over a game Amy’s Challenge at Keeneland.
Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, and Peter Deutsch’s Spiced Perfection also won the La Brea Stakes (G1) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park, which, like the Madison was contested at seven furlongs. Winning trainer Peter Miller is thrilled with the 4-year-old Smiling Tiger filly, who entered off a close runner-up finish in the Barbara Fritchie Stakes (G3) Feb. 16 at Laurel Park.
Bred by Premier Thoroughbreds out of the Pleasantly Perfect mare Perfect Feat, Spiced Perfection was purchased by Michael Faber’s Dare to Dream from Checkmate Thoroughbreds’ consignment to the Barretts March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in 2017. Before the Barbara Fritchie, she was sold privately to her current owners.
“To win for these owners with this filly, it means a lot to me, and to win here at Keeneland,” Miller said. “(It was a) great ride by Javier and I’m happy for the whole team. She ran great, she deserved it. She’s got a huge heart. She’s not a big filly. She’s not impressive to look at, but she’s impressive to watch run.
“We’re going to leave her here in Kentucky, and give her a couple of easy weeks. Hopefully we can run her in the Humana Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs on Derby weekend.”
On Saturday Spiced Perfection and jockey Javier Castellano would track Amy’s Challenge as the latter worked her way toward the rail after starting from Post 4. Those two would cruise through a quarter mile in :22.56 before opening on their other seven rivals through a half-mile in :45.53. It would prove a two-horse race with Spiced Perfection seizing the lead in midstretch and then holding off a re-rally attempt by Amy’s Challenge and jockey Alex Canchari.
Spiced Perfection completed the seven-furlong test in 1:23.49 on a fast track.
For Castellano it marked a third straight day with at least one stakes win at Keeneland as he took the opening day Palisades Turf Sprint Stakes aboard Bulletin and the April 5 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T) on Avie’s Flatter. He won three of the first six races Saturday at Keeneland.
(When this filly passed the other horse (Amy’s Challenge), she thought ‘OK, I’m done.’ “I had to ride her a little hard to keep the rhythm,” Castellano said “I liked the way she did it. Very professional. Wonderful filly.”
Spiced Perfection returned $11 to win, $4.60 to place and $3.20 to show. Amy’s Challenge paid $4 and $3.20 for the minor awards. Late Night Pow Wow earned her first grade 1 placing by finishing third, paying $2.80 to show.
Champion female sprinter and favorite Shamrock Rose never threatened the top two and finished fifth.
Bred by Premier Thoroughbreds out of the Pleasantly Perfect mare Perfect Feat, Spiced Perfection was purchased by Michael Faber’s Dare to Dream from Checkmate Thoroughbreds’ consignment to the Barretts March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in 2017. Before the Barbara Fritchie, she was sold privately to her current owners.