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English Events Horse Happenings

CONTESTED NEVER TESTED IN FRONT-RUNNING ACORN SCORE

BELMONT , N.Y. – Contested earned her first Grade 1 victory in front-running fashion Monday afternoon at Belmont Park , leading at every call to win the 82nd running of the $300,000 Acorn Stakes.

Breaking from the rail, Contested dashed to an uncontested lead, opening up three lengths on the field through a quarter-mile in 22.64. Still well clear after a half in 45.19, she prevailed by five lengths at the wire, stopping the clock at 1:34.61 for a mile. The even-money favorite, she returned $4.10.

“That’s just what we wanted to see,” said Jim Barnes, assistant to winning trainer Bob Baffert. “You’ve got to play the break, it all depends on how you break. She basically caught a flyer, and they stayed off of her. She went :22 and :45, so they didn’t just give it to her. She was rolling right along.”

It was the fourth consecutive win and second in a graded stakes for the 3-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper, who in her most recent outing captured the Grade 3 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs on May 4. The $180,000 winner’s purse of the Acorn more than doubled her bankroll to $324,754 as she ran her record to 4-1-0 from five starts.

“She is really an amazing filly,” said jockey Javier Castellano. “I hadn’t ridden her before, only watched the replays a couple of times. What she does, she does so easily. I just wanted to sit still and not move until it was the right time, and the right place. She enjoyed the trip and just galloped.”

It was the second Acorn victory for both Castellano and Hall of Famer Baffert, who teamed up to win the race in 2009 with Gabby’s Golden Gal. Baffert trains Contested for his wife, Jill (Natalie J. Baffert).

Zo Impressive was second, followed by Aubby K, On Fire Baby, Hard Mystery and Sacristy.

 Photo Credit NYRA/Adam Coglianese

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