Even-money favorite Contested stamped herself as a filly to watch with a dominating victory in the $100,000 Eight Belles Stakes (gr. III) this afternoon at Churchill Downs.
Ridden to victory by Martin Garcia, Contested got off to an excellent start in the seven-furlong race and settled into the second position behind Good Deed, who rattled off fractions of :22.13 and :44.37 while leading by a length and a half. Also up close were Small Kitchen and Livi Makenzie, while Zunlei was the early trailer in a field of eight.
As the field moved around the turn, Contested moved up to challenge for the lead and put Good Deed away turning for home. From there, the race was hers, and she drew off powerfully to win by several lengths while stopping the clock in the stakes-record time of 1:21.29.
Good Deed held second by a large margin over the late-rallying longshot Always Here Too, while Livi Makenzie rounded out the superfecta. The winner is owned by Natalie Baffert and trained by Bob Baffert.
-Keelerman
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