80th stakes winner for Malibu Moon!
April 5, 2014
Ex Pirate drew off in the stretch in Saturday’s $75,000 Anna Marie Island Sophomore Turf S. at Tampa Bay Downs, becoming the 80th career stakes winner for Malibu Moon.
The victory also gave Malibu Moon five stakes winners, 14 stakes horses on the year, and a top-five ranking on the 2014 General Sire List, with $2.2 million in progeny earnings.
Going a mile and a sixteenth on the grass, Ex Pirate led or contested the pace for the first six furlongs before quickly drawing away from Go Go Romeo at the head of the lane. The eventual winner had little drama in the lane, leading the field of 3-year-old fillies by 2 3/4-lengths at the wire (VIDEO).
The final time on the firm turf was 1:43.42.
Trained by Ralph Ziadie for Averill Racing LLC and Clark Freeman, Ex Pirate is now 3-3-0 in her eight starts, with earnings of $91,197.
Ex Pirate was bred in Florida by Glen Hill Farm. She is out of the stakes-placed mare Island Hop.