Augustin Stable’s INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos) was content to rate in third
just behind and to the outside of the early pace in Saturday’s $398,000
Presque Isle Downs Masters S. (G3), began her rally rounding the turn of the
6 1/2-furlong event and drew clear to score by an easy 2 1/2 lengths under
jockey Julien Leparoux. The Jonathan Sheppard-trained four-year-old posted a
final time of 1:15.10 for the Tapeta feature, just missing the track record of
1:15.04, and paid $3.80, $2.40 and $2.40 as the 4-5 favorite.
Tequilas Dayjur (Dayjur) set the pace through splits of :22 4/5 and :45 4/5,
with Sweet Lorena (Langfuhr) forcing the issue to her inside. The leader began backing
up
entering the stretch, but Sweet Lorena stayed on to secure second by a
half-length over Flashing (A.P. Indy) and Game Face (Menifee), who were just a
neck apart on the line. Sweet Lorena gave back $9.20 and $4.40 while ending the
$58.40 exacta as the 17-1 second longest shot on the board. Flashing was the
beneficiary of the photo for third, returning $4 at 7-1 and completing the
$308.80 trifecta. Game Face rounded out the $678.60 superfecta (9-7-3-4) at 9-2.
Porte Bonheur (Hennessy), Diamondrella (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) and
Tequilas Dayjur followed the top four under the wire after Bear Now (Tiznow),
Beautiful Venue (Came Home), Nicks (Salt Lake), Dubai Majesty (Essence of Dubai)
and Rollicking Affair (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) were all withdrawn. Old Time Religion
(Buddha) and Premier Roma (Burning Roma) were early scratches from the
also-eligible list.
Informed Decision ran her line to 12-9-0-2 with this win, and has now joined
the millionaires’ club, having banked $1,081,617 in lifetime earnings. She also
kept her synthetic track record perfect in five tries.
Informed Decision began a five-race win streak in the Missile Belle S. at
Belmont Park last September prior to ending her three-year-old season with a 4
1/4-length score in the Raven Run S. (G2) at Keeneland. The gray lass opened
2009 in the Madison S. (G1) back at that same venue, just edging Breeders’ Cup
Filly & Mare Sprint heroine Ventura (Chester House) by a head on the line, and
continued her domination of the female sprinting ranks with a three-quarters of
a length win in the Humana Distaff S. (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day. She posted a 4
3/4-length victory in the Chicago H. (G3) over Arlington Park’s Polytrack on
Independence Day, but could do no better than a one-paced third on Saratoga’s
sloppy dirt in the Ballerina S. (G1) last out.
Bred in Kentucky by Charles L. Kidder & Nancy M. Cole, Informed Decision has
passed through the sales ring twice, bringing $150,000 as a Fasig-Tipton July
yearling and $320,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May two-year-old. She is out
of the winning Palangana (His Majesty) and has a pair of unnamed half-sisters, a
Zavata juvenile and a Champali yearling, as well as a 2009 full brother.
Informed Decision’s second dam is Grade 3 winner and Grade 2-placed Countess
North (Northern Dancer), who produced 1985 New Orleans H. (G2) winner Westheimer
(Blushing Groom [Fr]).
This is the same family as three-time Grade 1 heroine Banker’s Lady (Nijinsky
II), Grade 1 scorer Ecton Park (Forty Niner), Grade 2 winners Banker’s Gold
(Forty Niner), Impetuous Gal (Briartic), Relaxing Rhythm (Easy Goer) and Spring
Waltz (Silver Charm) as well as Grade 3 victress Meribel (Peaks and Valleys).