Team Valor International’s Oleksandra split rivals in deep stretch to win the Listed Smart N Fancy Stakes by a length at Saratoga Aug. 17.
The Smart N Fancy marked the first Stakes win for the five-year-old Animal Kingdom mare, who began her career in her native Australia.
Ridden confidently by jockey Joel Rosario, Oleksandra was settled at the rear of the seven-horse field as Morticia, Too Much Tip and Broadway Run battled through the opening stages of the race. As the field entered the homestretch, Rosario angled Oleksandra off the rail and the duo shot through a narrow opening between Morticia and Fire Key to win by a length.
Oleksandra was bred in Australia by her owners and is out of Alexandra Rose, winner of the G2 Durban African Golden Slipper Stakes and G3 Monrovia Stakes. Oleksandra is a half-sister to G1-placed Hostwin Galaxy, and hails from the successful family of South African Stakes winners Alexandra Palace, Alexa and Forest Indigo.
Animal Kingdom is the sire of twelve Black-Type winners including G1 Australian Derby winner Angel of Truth, G2 winner Untamed Domain, and G3 winner Elsa. He is the sire of 2019 Stakes winners Regal Glory, winner of the G2 Lake Placid and G3 Lake George Stakes and Ahimsa, winner of the Osunitas Stakes.
