Unbeaten filly Applauding made a successful return to racing at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.  The gifted Congrats three year-old resumed from a year on the sidelines with a one length victory in an allowance event under the Twin Spires.

Applauding (3f Congrats – Andria’s Forest by Forestry) started an odds-on favourite and led all-the-way over 1200 metres.  “When we got to the top of the lane I was getting worried,” jockey Joe Rocco said.  “But after I got after her, she went on.”

Applauding scored a stunning 9 length victory on debut at Keeneland in October 2011 when she set a new track record of 1.07.60s for 1200m.  She followed up with a six-length romp at Fair Grounds last December.

Owner Ramona Bass and trainer Al Stall jnr were looking forward to her three year-old campaign but the filly came down with a mystery illness on New Year’s Day.  “She had stomach ulcers and lost weight and we just couldn’t get her system right,” Stall explained.  “I finally had to shut her down and send her back to Claiborne Farm.

“She took a long time to start looking good, and then finally, boom, she just turned the corner.  I will go to my grave not knowing what set her back so long.”

Stall said Applauding will now head to the New Orleans winter meeting that runs from today until March.

Applauding is by Vinery shuttler Congrats out of a half-sister to G2 winning racehorse and top sire Crafty C. T. (Crafty Prospector).  The chestnut filly was bred by Brylynn Farm and was a $50,000 buy at the Ocala yearling sale in August 2010.  She was re-offered at the Fasig-Tipton 2YO Sale in Florida in February 2011 when Ramona Bass upped the ante to $370,000

Congrats (A P Indy) is currently serving his second southern book at Vinery for a $22,000 (inc gst) fee.  His oldest USA bred progeny are four year-olds and he has sired 122 winners of 309 races at an astounding 78% strike-rate.

– Karl Patterson

APPLAUDING
Congrats filly scores a comeback victory at Churchill Downs