It was a big week at Keeneland for Paynter, with two impressive maiden special weight winners.
The first was Lenamarie, winning Thursday’s final race of the day, a one mile race on Keeneland’s turf course with Julien Leparoux aboard. The Eddie Kenneally-trainee broke well and ran under a tight hold early on, stalking the early pace. The dark bay filly started making her move with three furlongs to go, angling off the rail and coming to three wide to chase down the leader. She battled gamely down the stretch and shook off her competitors to win the race by 1 ½ lengths. [Watch race]
The 2-year-old filly was last seen finishing second in her debut race at Kentucky Downs by ¾ of a length. Lenamarie is out of Trappings and was bred in Kentucky by Nancy Mazzoni. She is a half-sister to 2009 Champion 2-year-old filly She Be Wild. Lenamarie earned her breeder $10,000 in WIN awards.
Paynter’s second winner of the week, Nanoosh, came in the fourth race on Friday, also at one mile on the turf. Ridden by Jon Court, the Wayne Lukas-trained colt was unhurried early in the race, sitting in seventh position until entering the far turn. It was then that he swung out wide, easily picking off his competition down the lane to win the race impressively by 3 lengths. [Watch race]
This was the 2-year-old colt’s third lifetime start, but the first time on turf and around two turns after sprinting on the main track in his first two starts. His owner/breeders, Zayat Stables, earned $10,000 in WIN awards with this victory.
The wins by Lenamarie and Nanoosh bring first-crop sire Paynter up to six individual winners.
