William Pacella, Frank L. Jones Jr. and Frank Frank Shoop’s homebred Sweeping Patty pulled off a 3 1/2-length victory in Saturday night’s $100,000 Regret Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
With jockey Luis Saez aboard, the bay lass bided her time in third as Like a Hurricane drew off through splits of :23.30, :47.04 and 1:11.62 over the firm turf. The rest of the field caught up heading into the stretch, but Sweeping Paddy was going best of all.
The Dale Romans-trained daughter of Paddy O’Prado separated herself from the group and drew away to finish 1 1/8 miles on the green in 1:47.62. Sent off the 7-2 second choice, Sweeping Paddy paid $9.20.
Proctor’s Legacy, the near 3-1 favorite, rallied from the back of the pack to take second by a length over Summer Luck. Chubby Star followed another 1 1/4 lengths behind in fourth while completing the order of finish were Fizzy Friday, Sameeha, Starr Bear, La Manta Gris, Savannah Belle, Blame the Law, Anothertequilashot and Like a Hurricane.
Sweeping Paddy broke her maiden in her second try by 12 lengths before finishing fourth in the Jessamine Stakes (G3) and eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) to close out her juvenile campaign. She finished off-the-board in her initial two sophomore starts, but entered the Regret off a runner-up effort in an allowance at Keeneland and a third-place run in the Edgewood Stakes (G3) under the Twin Spires.
Bred in Kentucky, Sweeping Paddy is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare C. S. Royce, making her a full sister to last year’s Preakness Stakes (G1) second Cherry Wine. This female family also boasts Grade 1-winning sire Exciting Story.
REGRET QUOTES
Luis Saez, jockey Sweeping Paddy, winner
“The pace was a little bit quicker today than the last start and she just came flying at the end. We sat in a perfect spot the entire way around and did everything great.”
Dale Romans, trainer Sweeping Paddy, winner
“This horse is so special to us. I’ve trained her mother, grandmother and father. What a great win for us and the owners. She just came flying home at the end. I thought Luis (Saez) gave her a perfect ride. What more could you ask for?”
Corey Lanerie, jockey Proctor’s Ledge, second
“I had a good trip. Got there, got out at the top of the lane, just couldn’t get there in time.”
Brendan Walsh, trainer Proctor’s Ledge, second
“She ran great, can’t be disappointed, you know. Just second again.”
Walsh also trains Honorable Duty, who ran second in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) one race prior
Florent Geroux, jockey Summer Luck, third
“The filly ran great, first time on the turf. Just got beat today. Great trip. No excuse.”
Norman Casse, assistant trainer Summer Luck, third
“We’ll keep figuring her out. It wasn’t a bad effort at all for her first start on the grass. We know she’s a talented horse, we just have to figure out what she likes best.”
