Laurel Park on Saturday was the scene of Royale Michele's biggest win of her career to date. After graduating from claimers, the Elusive Quality (pictured) filly has now won her last four starts culminating in this G2 victory, where she came with a stretch run to defeat the luckless Seventh Street by one-and-three-quarter lengths. She has now won five of her eight starts and more than $180,000 in prize-money.
Bred by Pollock Farm, she is one of five winners out by Stakes placed Groovy mare, Michele Royale, who also has a full-sister two-year-old this year to Royale Michele.
Back in second was Seventh Street who must be regarded as a very unlucky loser. When the gates opened, the Street Cry filly went up in the air, losing ten-lengths in the process. Given time to recover, she trailed the field for most of the way, circling them round the final bend and doing well to finish as close as she did, a point not lost on her rider Rajiv Maragh "You have to be a special horse to even get back in the race.....but to almost win is unbelievable".
Seventh Street was bred by Steve Barberino and is the first foal of Stakes winning mare Holiday Runner. Her second was last seasons G2 placed juvenile Reynaldothewizard. Bought for $1 million as a juvenile, she has now had five starts for three victories and two places.
