Antoinette took the lead right out of the starting gate and never looked back as she cruised to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory in the G3 The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream Park Feb. 27.
The four-year-old daughter of Hard Spun, who races as a homebred for Godolphin, was making her first start of the year. Antoinette earned her first Graded Stakes victory in The Very One, after having captured the Saratoga Oaks Invitational and placing in both the G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational and G1 Coaching Club American Oaks as a three-year-old.
Ridden for the first time by jockey Jose Ortiz, Antoinette broke alertly and went right to the front out of the gate. She continued to cruise along into the clubhouse turn and on to the backstretch, opening a one-length lead on Belle Laura and Sister Hanan while racing with her ears pricked. Antoinette kicked clear when called upon in upper stretch and was never seriously threatened on her way to victory.
Antoinette was bred in Kentucky and is the second foal out of four-time Graded Stakes winner Shuruq (Elusive Quality). A daughter of G2 winner Miss Lucifer, Shuruq is a half-sister to 2020 G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Space Blues (Dubawi). Antoinette is a half-sister to the talented three-year-old filly, Javanica (Medaglia d’Oro), who was second in both the G3 Jimmy Durante Stakes and Listed El Camino Real Derby.
Hard Spun is the sire of over 80 career Black Type winners. In addition to Antoinette, Hard Spun is represented by 2021 Stakes winners Caddo River (Listed Smarty Jones Stakes) and Silver State (Listed Fifth Season Stakes).
Hard Spun is standing the 2021 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $35,000, stands and nurses.
