2008 Keeneland Week 3

Wednesday's feature race was the $125,000 Appalachian Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 mile on the turf. Mrs. Petoski set a slow early pace of 24.54, 49.49, and 1:14.30 while being stalked by favorite I Lost My Choo down the backstretch. Entering the stretch, 5-1 Alwajeeha, 6th early, came out four wide to take over the lead at the 1/16 pole and was all out to hold off the late rally of second choice Sweepstake, who in turn was just a nose ahead of third place finisher I Lost My Choo in a three-horse photo.

Neal McLaughlin, assistant and brother to winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, said, "She's a super filly. I want to congratulate Rick Nichols (VP of Shadwell Stable) for talking to Kiaran. We decided to scratch her out of a race last week and run in the stakes today. He was right. She's a stakes filly. We're going to have a lot of fun with her this year."
Results chart