Jockey John Velazquez hoped Friday’s Grade 3 Allaire DuPont Stakes would signal good fortune to come as he guided Spice Is Nice to a confident victory on the Black-Eyed Susan undercard. The Todd Pletcher trainee came out of the gate easily in the 1 1/8-mile contest and Velazquez later said he would have been happy to sit third or fourth, but found himself tucked in next to early leader Dreamalildreamofu so he allowed his mount to stay where she seemed happy. Spice Is Nice remained comfortable on the outside of her rival and got a nose out in front on the turn. Dreamalildreamofu did not give up easily, fighting back through the turn and throughout the stretch, while both turned away a brief bid by closing long shot Landing Zone.
The final time was 1:48.71.
Dreamalildreamofu held on for second, while Getridofwhatailesu was third. Horologist, who was the 8-5 favorite, was fourth.
Spice Is Nice went off at odds of 2-1 and paid $6.60 to win.
The race is the first graded stakes win for the 4-year-old, who is owned by Robert and Lawana Low. The chestnut came to the race off an allowance/optional claimer win at Keeneland on April 9. She was bred in Kentucky by B Flay Thoroughbreds and is the daughter of Curlin and Bernardini mare Dame Dorothy. The filly was sold as a yearling at Keeneland September for $1.05 million to the Lows and West Bloodstock, having been consigned by Stone Farm.
The fractional times were :23.54, :47.62, 1:11.15, and 1:35.93.
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