Excessivespending grabbed the lead in deep stretch to capture Saturday’s Menard Memorial S. at Fair Grounds, giving the 5-year-old daughter of Shackleford her first stakes victory.
After finishing a good third in last month’s Pan Zareta S., Excessivespending proved best on Saturday. Unhustled early, jockey Mitchell Murrill took his mount four-wide into the stretch to run down Oxford Comma in the final strides, winning by a half-length in 1:04.25 for the “about” 5 1/2-furlongs on the firm turf [WATCH RACE].
“We got a good break and a good trip,” Murrill said. “We just had to wait on the right time. The previous race (Pan Zareta) I squeezed on her too soon and she got a little late on me but today we were able to figure it out and adjust.”
Excessivespending has now banked a total of $305,348 for her owner Joey Keith Davis.
Bred in Kentucky by BMWZ Stables, Excessivespending is out of the In Excess mare Excessing, who also produced stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Sweet Marini. She was purchased for $65,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale.
A top-10 sire by each of his first three crops, Shackleford’s runners in 2018 were headlined by Grade 1 winner Promises Fulfilled. He is standing this year at Darby Dan Farm for $20,000 stands and nurses.
