EMMA'S ENCORE WINS THE PRIORESS STAKES!

Emma's Encore turned in a tremendous rally in the final furlong of the $300,000 Prioress Stakes (gr. I) to win the prestigious six-furlong race by a nose, giving trainer Allen Jerkens his first grade I victory in several years.

Ridden to victory by Junior Alvarado, Emma's Encore sat well off of the early pace set by Agave Kiss, who rattled off fractions of :22.15 and :44.64 while being tracked by Judy the Beauty and Tu Endie Wei. Jazzy Idea and Livi Makenzie were also fairly close, while Emma's Encore was the early trailer by a large margin.

Turning for home, Agave Kiss kicked away from her rivals and opened up a clear lead, but after running five furlongs in :56.63, she began to tire, allowing Judy the Beauty to wear her down and strike the front. She appeared to be on her way to victory, but Emma's Encore was rallying even faster on the far outside. The two hit the wire together, but the photo finish revealed Emma's Encore the winner by a narrow margin.

The final time was 1:09.35. Agave Kiss finished third, while Jazzy Idea rounded out the superfecta. The winner is trained by Allen Jerkens, who is famous for having upset the great Secretariat with two different horses, Onion and Prove Out, during the summer of 1973. Jerkens is a member of horse racing's Hall of Fame, and has trained the winners of over $100 million dollars.

-Keelerman

Prioress Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $300,000 Prioress Stakes (gr. I), to be run on Saturday at Saratoga. The six-furlong sprint for three-year-old fillies has drawn a strong field of seven, including the 1-2-3-5 finishers from last month's Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III): Emma's Encore, Jamaican Smoke, Tu Endie Wei, and Agave Kiss.

1 Emma's Encore
2 Livi Makenzie
3 Jamaican Smoke
4 Tu Endie Wei
5 Judy the Beauty
6 Agave Kiss
7 Jazzy Idea

-Keelerman

CONTESTED WINS THE EIGHT BELLES STAKES!

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

GYPSY ROBIN WINS THE BEAUMONT STAKES!

Gypsy Robin went straight to the lead and never looked back in Keeneland's $150,000 Beaumont Stakes (gr. II), drawing away in the stretch to win by about three or four lengths.

Ridden to victory by Jeffrey Sanchez, Gypsy Robin got off to an excellent start and quickly sprinted clear of her rivals while setting a very slow pace of :24.15 and :49.10. Livi Makenzie was racing on the outside in second, about a length and a half behind the leader. Favored Sacristy was in the three path, followed by Piskacha along the rail. Born Bullish and Milania were the early trailers.

Fantasy Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $300,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II), to be run on April 11th at Oaklawn Park. The one-mile and a sixteenth race for three-year-old fillies is a major prep for the upcoming $1,000,000 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). Eight horses have been entered, including Mamma Kimbo and Jemima's Pearl, a pair of from the barn of Bob Baffert.

1 Mamma Kimbo
2 Wait Til Dawn
3 Kitty Kat Karly