Pioneerof the Nile Sis to Always Dreaming Draws Off in Demoiselle

Positive Spirit | Coglianese

Positive Spirit, a half-sister to last year's GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), made the step up in class in Aqueduct's GII Demoiselle S. look easy with a dominant victory Saturday. The 11-1 shot broke on top, but was passed by a pair or rivals to her inside and settled in a two-wide third alongside favored Enliven (Ghostzapper) as Filly Joel maintained a short lead through early fractions of :24.16 and :49.19. The top three lined up across the track on the backstretch and Positive Spirit coasted into the top spot on the far turn. It was all over from there as the bay easily powered clear of her foes to win as she pleased by 10 1/2 lengths. Longshot Afleet Destiny (Hard Spun) rallied for second and Filly Joel held third. Enliven faded to fifth.

“I was just the pilot,” said winning rider Manny Franco. “She was dragging me around the entire way around. I just waited for the right moment to make a run and she was there for me. I wasn't concerned about being floated wide because on the backside we were running straight and didn't lose ground. I just kept her there so she could stay clean and she really did it easy. She took me to the front to make the lead and when I asked her she really opened up.”

Third on debut in a seven-panel test at Saratoga, Positive Spirit missed by just a neck when stretched to two turns at Keeneland next out Oct. 6. She entered this test off a 1 1/2-length graduation going a mile at Churchill Downs last time Nov. 8 and a bullet four panels at Keeneland in :48 flat Nov. 25.

“She really changed after the race in Keeneland,” winning trainer Rodolphe Brisset said. “The light bulb really went on after she got beat. I didn't want to cut her back to a mile [when she won last time at Churchill], but I didn't have any choice. We did that, and since, she's been training well and we took a shot here. She gave us all the good signs for bringing her and it paid off.”

As for the future, the conditioner said, “She's going to head to Payson Park mid next week. I think we'll give her 30 days. It's a good place to chill and we can come up with a plan next year. [Looking forward], who doesn't want to go to the Kentucky Oaks? Physically, she's a pretty big filly, but I'd love to see her develop even more in the transition between 2 and 3. Let's take it month by month.”

Pedigree Notes:

Positive Spirit is a daughter of Grade III winner and GISP Above Perfection, who carried her talent from the racetrack to the breeding shed. In addition to last term's Kentucky Derby and GI Florida Derby victor Always Dreaming, the dark bay also produced GI Spinaway S. heroine Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union), who in turn produced MSW & GSP 'TDN Rising Star' and new New York sire Union Jackson (Curlin). The 20-year-old mare has not produced a foal since Positive Spirit, but was most recently bred to Curlin.

Saturday, Aqueduct
DEMOISELLE S.-GII, $250,000, Aqueduct, 12-1, 2yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:56.01, ft.
1–POSITIVE SPIRIT, 118, f, 2, by Pioneerof the Nile
1st Dam: Above Perfection (GSW & GISP, $380,737), by In Excess (Ire)
2nd Dam: Something Perfect, by Somethingfabulous
3rd Dam: Happening, by Terrang
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Michael J.
Ryan; B-Santa Rosa Partners (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset;
J-Manuel Franco. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1,
$206,700. *1/2 to Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), MGISW,
$2,415,860; Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union), GISW, $343,252.
Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Afleet Destiny, 118, f, 2, Hard Spun–Afleet Lover, by
Northern Afleet. ($35,000 2yo '18 EASMAY). O/T-Uriah St.
Lewis; B-Wynnstay LLC & H.Allen Poindexter (KY). $50,000.
3–Filly Joel, 118, f, 2, Dialed In–Sally's Song, by Unbridled's
Song. O/B-Arindel (FL); T-Rudy R. Rodriguez. $30,000.
Margins: 10HF, 2 1/4, 5 3/4. Odds: 11.20, 26.75, 2.50.
Also Ran: Molto Bella, Enliven, Jennifer's Dream, Girl of Tosconova. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.