Debby M. Oxley’s homebred Heavenly Love earned her shot at Breeders’ Cup glory on Friday when drawing off for a 5 1/2-length victory in the $400,000 Alcibiades Stakes (G1) on opening day of Keeneland’s 2017 fall meet.
The Alcibiades is both a “Win & You’re In” Challenge race, offering an all-fees paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on November 4 at Del Mar, and a points race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, awarding 10-4-2-1 points to the top four finishers.
Heavenly Love took the majority of those points with her first win on dirt. Settled just off the flank outside of the pacesetting Dancing through splits of :23.94, :48.38 and 1:13.81, the Malibu Moon miss surged past that rival rounding the turn. From there, the bay lass opened up under jockey Julien Leparoux to be 5 1/2 lengths clear on the wire.
Heavenly Love paid $13.40 as the 5-1 fourth choice after stopping the clock in 1:45.32 for 1 1/16 miles over the fast main track. Princess Warrior, the 3-2 favorite in the 10-strong field, was no match for the winner but rallied from midpack to secure second by 1 1/2 lengths over Dancing. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Sassy Sienna in fourth.
Completing the order of finish were 7-2 second choice Kelly’s Humor, Bet She Wins, Caroline the Great, Arabella Bella, Over Thinking and Pacific Gale.
Heavenly Love is now 2-0-1 from three career starts and has banked $322,000 lifetime. The Mark Casse trainee made her racing debut at Gulfstream Park on June 24, finishing third while going five furlongs, then transferred to the turf for her next start at Kentucky Downs on September 7. The Kentucky-bred lass romped by five lengths in that six-furlong, good turf maiden, but returned to the main track for this easy score.
Heavenly Love is out of the Deputy Minister mare Darling My Darling, who captured the 2000 Raven Run Stakes and 2001 Doubledogdare Stakes while placing in the 2000 Beaumont Stakes (G2), all at Keeneland. That bay mare also placed in the Frizette Stakes (G1) and Matron Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park during her time on track.
Darling My Darling found success in the breeding shed when producing Forever Darling, heroine of last year’s Santa Ynez Stakes (G2). Darling My Darling is out of another Keeneland winner in the Mining mare Roamin Rachel, who won the 1993 Beaumont Stakes (G3) as well as Saratoga’s Ballerina Handicap (G1) a year later, and counts as a half-brother Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy.
ALCIBIADES QUOTES
David Carroll, assistant trainer Heavenly Love, winner
“Awesome performance. She trained beautifully. Great ride by Julien (Leparoux), and we’re so happy for the Oxleys; they’re unbelievable owners.”
On whether the filly will advance to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1)
“I’m sure (trainer) Mark (Casse) and Mr. Oxley and (owner) Mrs. Oxley will talk about that. As long as she comes back good I don’t see why not.”
Julien Leparoux, jockey Heavenly Love, winner
“We had a great trip, sitting second (early in the race). She exploded (and took the lead around the final turn) but we still had some left. When she gets to the lead, she kinda looks around. She’s still a little baby, but she’s a very nice filly. She impressed me at Kentucky Downs when she won (a maiden race by five lengths on September 17). She repeated it today.”
Brian Hernandez Jr., jockey Princess Warrior, second
“Our filly ran good. This was her second start, first time around two turns. She stepped up really nicely today. You always want to win these races, but we’ll have to take second today. We have to be proud of her.”
Kenny McPeek, trainer Princess Warrior, second
“She ran good, real good. She ran like she was an experienced filly, and first time going two turns. I’m pleased.”
On whether she will continue to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
“I don’t know. We’ll talk about it.”
Manny Franco, jockey Dancing, third
“She surprised me. She broke sharp and took me to the lead. I just let her go and didn’t fight her. I thought she ran a good race. She was comfortable and it was a decent pace.”
Luis Saez, jockey Sassy Sienna, fourth
“She was traveling pretty good. I thought she was going to win the race. But when she really had to make the move, she didn’t really respond to me. I was following the winner, and she was right there with the winner. I thought we had her. She’s still young, she’ll be OK.”
