Feathered Leads All the Way to Take Edgewood Presented by Forcht Bank

May 01, 2015

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Feathered, making her grass debut, took the lead out of the gate and repulsed a stretch bid from favored Quality Rocks to win the 30^th running of the $150,000 Edgewood (GIII) Presented by Forcht Bank for 3-year-old fillies by two lengths.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Javier Castellano, Feathered covered the 1 1/16 miles on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:42.05.

Castellano put Feathered on the lead out of the gate and led the field of seven through fractions of  :24.22, :49.22 and 1:13.40 with Lady Zuzu in closest pursuit.

At the head of the lane, Jose Lezcano tipped Quality Rocks off the hedge and made a run at Feathered but was quickly turned away.

The victory was worth $84,630 and improved Feathered’s bankroll to $394,464 with a record of 8-2-2-1.

        Feathered is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Indian Charlie out of the Dynaformer mare Receipt.

        Feathered returned mutuels of $10.40, $4.20 and $3. Quality Rocks paid $2.80 and $2.40 and finished 2 ¾ lengths in front of Lady Zuzu who paid $3.20 to show under Luis Saez.

        It was another 1 ½ lengths back to B Rockett, who was followed in order by My Year Is a Day (FR), Sweet Swingin and Flying Tipat.

EDGEWOOD PRESENTED BY FORCHT BANK QUOTES

JAVIER CASTELLANO, jockey of FEATHERED (winner)

“She broke well out of the gate. I liked the way she did it today. I know it was her first time on the turf but I knew usually her best race is when she breaks well out of the gate. I took the pace and she finished really, really well. She exploded because we were able to relax in the first part. When I asked her, she took off and she was really impressive the last part of the race.”

TODD PLETCHER, trainer of FEATHERED (winner)

“She has the size and shape of a filly that might get over the turf well. And pedigree like that, it just made sense to run her here. Plan A was actually to try and lay off the pace, but when she broke sharp and several others did not, (jockey) Javier (Castellano) called an audible and it worked out well.”

JOSE LEZCANO, jockey of QUALITY ROCKS (second)

“I was in a good spot and my trip was good all the way. The winner was just too good today.”

LUIS SAEZ, jockey of LADY ZUZU (third)

“My filly put in a good late run. She was coming on. We just ran out of ground.”

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN), which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on May 2, 2015. The track’s 2015 Spring Meet is scheduled for April 25-June 27. The track has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record eight times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.ChurchillDowns.com.