An Eclipse Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and Female Turf Horse finalist for 2024, KARKONTIE’s three-time Grade 1 winner She Feels Pretty earned even more accolades for her top level 3-year-old season on Friday when named Champion Kentucky-Bred Female Turf Horse by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association.
A $240,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by racing owner Lael Stable from Stone Farm, the Payson Stud-bred has thrived under trainer Cherie DeVaux.
Her first Grade 1 success came in just her second start as a juvenile when she won the Natalma Stakes (G1) at Woodbine in 2023 before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). Her record at three under DeVaux’s direction was even more impressive than that first season.
Kicking it off with a win in the Hilltop Stakes, She Feels Pretty went on to register placings in the Belmont Oaks (G1) and Lake Placid S. (G2) before a second-half campaign for the ages. Racing in Kentucky for the first time in last October’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), She Feels Pretty made a clear statement when romping by six lengths as a heavy favorite.
Watch the full replay as SHE FEELS PRETTY puts on a dominating performance in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana! pic.twitter.com/pX9BJV5c7c
— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 12, 2024
The filly bypassed last year’s Breeders’ Cup, but still made the trip to California late in the year for another Grade 1 run. A rough early part of the race could have excused a loss, but She Feels Pretty wasn’t willing to let that stop her. She took the lead as they passed the quarter pole to run away with a 2 ½ length win.
She Feels Pretty Comes West And Takes Down The Grade I, $300,000 American Oaks pic.twitter.com/3nUevFgeoY
— Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) December 27, 2024
The KARAKONTIE daughter ended her season with three victories and two other top three finishes in a five-race campaign for $775,938 in earnings. In all, she has won five of her eight starts with three other top three finishes for $1,128,317.
She Feels Pretty has been working regularly at Keeneland over the past month.
She Feels Pretty’s dam Summer Sweet also has an OLYMPIAD yearling filly to come.