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Munnings Express delivered her first stakes win Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course, taking the $200,000 Johnstone for New York-bred fillies and mares by 1 3/4 lengths.
Trained by Linda Rice and ridden by Manny Franco, the 4-year-old bay covered seven furlongs in 1:23.39. She returned $13.50 on a $2 win bet and earned $110,000 for the victory.
How the Johnstone unfolded at Saratoga
Munnings Express won from Landed, who finished second, with Usha third and Iron Orchard fourth. The race drew seven horses, including two Grade 1 winners, while Sunday Girl was scratched.
The early fractions were 22.20 seconds for the opening quarter, 45.10 for the half-mile and 1:09.65 for three-quarters before Munnings Express finished strongest.
Franco said his plan was to keep the filly involved early without overcommitting to the pace. He said he saw room along the rail between the three-eighths pole and the five-sixteenths pole and decided to make his move there.
Rice praised Franco afterward, calling it a terrific ride and saying she was excited to get a stakes win with the filly.
What the result adds to her record
The Johnstone pushed Munnings Express’s career mark to 12-6-3-3. She is by Munnings out of Freudie Anne and was bred by Fergus Galvin, Marc Detampel, Jayne Johnson and Adrian Wallace.
She was bought for $325,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale.
For horseplayers following the Saratoga meet, the result also came with a quick turnaround to the next state-bred feature. Live racing resumes Thursday with a 10-race card, and the $200,000 John Morrissey is scheduled for Race 9. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
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Source: As reported by news.google.com.
