Lady Shipman made every pole a winning one to secure her first graded stakes win in Sunday’s Grade 3 $157,300 Royal North Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for owner Ranlo Investments LLC, Lady Shipman, sent to post as the 3-5 mutuel favourite, blasted out of the gate under Jesse Campbell and set splits of :22.86 and :45.24 under pressure from She’s Explosive.
Lady Shipman maintained her advantage through the turn as Cactus Kris and Mississippi Delta were urged into contention, but there was no reeling in the speedy chestnut who carried her speed through the wire a 1 3/4-length winner. She’s Explosive held on strong to earn the place position by ¾-lengths over Mississippi Delta. Lady Shipman covered six furlongs, over an E.P. Taylor Turf Course rated as ‘Firm’, in 1:07.70.
Campbell was aboard the speedy filly for the first time on Sunday, but was in attendance at Keeneland last October when Lady Shipman was narrowly defeated in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint by Mongolian Saturday.
“I spoke with Kiaran this morning and it put a lot of confidence in me,” said Campbell. “I was at the Breeders’ Cup when she ran and I watched some of her previous races. Kiaran told me that he loved her today and to ride her like she’s the best horse.
“She made the lead a little easier than I thought she would,” continued Campbell. “And with a filly of this quality, it’s going to be a tough day for everyone else.”
The victory at Woodbine marked the eighth different course where Lady Shipman has found the wire first. The list includes Belmont Park, Gulfstream Park, Gulfstream Park West, Monmouth Park, Ocala Training Center, Pimlico and Saratoga.
“To win at eight different tracks is something in itself,” said owner-breeder Randall E. Lowe.
Last time out against the boys in the Grade 2 Highlander Stakes, while making her first appearance at Woodbine, Lady Shipman was unable to get the lead out of the gate under jockey Joel Rosario. However, Lowe remained confident in Lady Shipman, a winner of nine stakes events heading into the Royal North.
“We had this planned all along. After she showed what she could do against the boys, and she didn’t get a very clean trip last time, we thought we’d run her right back against the girls and see if they can beat us. She showed today, you can’t catch her,” said Lowe.
Lady Shipman, bred in Kentucky by her owner, banked $90,000 in victory while improving her record to 12-2-2 from 18 starts.
She paid $3.30, $2.70 and $2.10, combining with She’s Explosive ($4.90, $3.50) for a $15.70 (5-2) exactor. A 5-2-7 triactor (Mississippi Delta, $3.20 to show) was worth $64.10, while a $1 Superfecta [5-2-7-9 (Cactus Kris)] came back $113.75. Disco Barbie was scratched.
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