Two-year-old filly Specially made short work of 11 rivals in a Keeneland maiden special weight event at six furlongs on Oct. 5, running away to an impressive 5 ¼-length score in her unveiling. The eye-catching victory, accomplished in 1:10.45 under jockey Florent Geroux, earned the John Oxley colorbearer TDN Rising Star status.
Trained by Mark Casse, Specially tracked the early pace from third, easily collared the leaders at the top of the lane and kicked clear in the stretch to become her sire’s 15th winner. The bay filly, produced from the War Front mare Peace Process, was her sire’s most expensive juvenile this year, fetching $475,000 from Team Casse at the OBS March sale after breezing in :09 4/5 at the under tack preview.
Bred in Kentucky by Ikhana Farm, Specially is a half-sister to Joevia, the third-place finisher in this year’s Belmont Stakes (G1).
