Competitionofideas’s brilliant stretch run carried the 3-year-old Speightstown filly to a 2 3/4-length victory in the $300,000 American Oaks on Dec. 29 at Santa Anita Park.
She is Speightstown 99th lifetime black type winner and the 15th Grade 1 winner for the WinStar stallion, while his progeny are approaching the $94 million earnings mark worldwide.
Ridden very patiently by Joel Rosario, Competitionofideas of ideas sat at the back of the pack for the first seven furlongs of the 1 1/4-mile turf marathon. Forced to go four-wide around the final bend, the dark bay steadily advanced and was in full flight in upper stretch. She blew by K P Pergoliscious (IRE) in mid-stretch to win going away in 1:59.77 on the firm turf.
“She broke well, we saved ground, and we took one shot,” said Rosario. “I thought we would be closer but everybody wanted their spot so I just let her settle.”
The victory, which came in her graded stakes debut, upped Competitionofideas’s record to 3-1-2 from seven starts and her earnings to $315,568. She is owned by Klaravich Stables and was purchased for $325,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling sale. Competitionofideas of ideas was bred by John Gunther, Tony Chedraoui and Eurowest Bloodstock.
Pedigree Notes from the TDN:
Competitionofideas’s dam Devil By Design annexed the 2011 GIII Chicago H. A $325,000 yearling herself, Competitionofideas’s year-younger full-brother was Speightstown’s priciest yearling of 2017 when he cost $900,000. This Speightstown–Medaglia d’Oro cross has also produced MGISW sprinter Rock Fall and ‘TDN Rising Star’ and 2018 graded stakes winner Strike Power. Competitionofideas is the 46th graded stakes winner and 15th Grade I winner for the WinStar resident and champion sprinter.
