Undefeated Vino Rosso filly rallies for first stakes win

Cap Classique won for the third time in as many starts in Saturday’s $100,000 Smart Halo S. at Laurel Park, coming from well off the pace to give leading First-Crop sire Vino Rosso his second stakes winner.

With over $1.8 million in progeny earnings to date, Vino Rosso sits atop the First-Crop list, just ahead of fellow Spendthrift sires Mitole and Maximus Mischief. Vino Rosso also leads the list by stakes horses, with nine, and Grade 1 horses, with four.

Cap Classique, a seven-length allowance winner at Laurel on Oct. 7, dropped back from her inside post and was near the rear of the nine-horse field down the backstretch. She held her rail position around the turn, and when an opening appeared at the top of the stretch, she went from seventh to first with less than a furlong to go, then drew away late to win by 1 ¼-lengths in 1:12.09 on a fast track.

“You don’t love to see that you draw the rail in spot like this, but she’s a good filly. They’re going to have to overcome post positions at some point in their lives. We like her a lot, and she showed it today,” trainer Brittany Russell said.

Owned by DARRS Inc., Cap Classique has earned $128,400 in her three victories. She was a $145,000 purchase by her owner at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale this May.

Cap Classique was bred by Cypress Creek Equine, LLC and Three Diamonds Farm.