Sweet Vendetta
Encyclopedia
Sweet Vendetta is an American Thoroughbred
filly
racehorse
. She won four of her first seven outings. The daughter of Stephen Got Even will best be remembered for posting a 1-1/2 length score in the mile and an eighth Grade II
$200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
at Pimlico Race Course
on May 16, 2008.
. Sweet Vendetta then lost her next start to Little Belle who won by two lengths in the $81,600 Busher Stakes
for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack
on Sunday, February 24, 2008. Little Belle was timed at 1:44.3 for one and 1/16 mile race on a fast track. Little Belle paid $9.30 to win while Sweet Vendetta returned $8.60 to place. Sweet Vendetta then went on three weeks later to beat Love You Not by four lengths on March 18, 2008 in the $67,500 Andover Way Stakes for 3-year-old fillies in the rain and slop at Aqueduct Racetrack
. Jockey Channing Hill
was aboard as Sweet Vendetta got her second win in six starts. She ran a mile and seventy yards in 1:42, paying $7.70 to win.
Her connections including pop star owner David Cassidy
decided to enter her in the second jewel of America's defacto Filly Triple Crown, the $200,000 Grade II
Black-eyed Susan Stakes.
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is the distaff counterpart to the Preakness Stakes
, and was run on the Friday of Preakness Stakes weekend before a crowd of 28,407 who withstood constant wet weather with intermittent rain. A field of eight three-year-old fillies went to the gate in this one and one eighth mile feature race. Kentucky Oaks
fourth place finisher Bsharpsonata was sent off as the 5-2 favorite over 3-1 second choice Seattle Smooth
, winner of the Bay Meadows Oaks last time out. Six to one shot Sherine was allowed an uncontested lead of three lengths through fractions of 23.6, 47.6 with entrymate Pious Ashley in second as the field passed the stands for the first time and worked around the club house turn.
Entering the lane at the top of the stretch, the leaders' strategy both failed as both faded from contention. Shes All Eltish, who settled in fifth early went out wide the whole way around the final turn, then she took over the lead at the 3/16 pole and quickly opened up a three length advantage on 8-1 Sweet Vendetta. Sweet Vendetta had raced back in 6th and 7th down the backstretch but when Jockey Channing Hill asked her for a big run he got it, as she powered by Shes All Eltish at the sixteenth pole and drew off to a 1-1/2 length win in 1:49.6 over the muddy, sealed main track. It was just another length back to late-running Seattle Smooth who finished in third, while favorite Bsharpsonata raced within four lengths of the pace for the first half mile then tired badly late to finish last beaten 23 lengths.
Sweet Vendetta only raced one more time and finished off the board before she was retired in 2008.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. She won four of her first seven outings. The daughter of Stephen Got Even will best be remembered for posting a 1-1/2 length score in the mile and an eighth Grade II
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
$200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is open to three-year-old fillies willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $250,000...
at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
on May 16, 2008.
Racing career
Trained by Gary Contessa, she won a score in her second start as a two-year old in a one mile maiden special weight race in October 2007 at Belmont ParkBelmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
. Sweet Vendetta then lost her next start to Little Belle who won by two lengths in the $81,600 Busher Stakes
Busher Stakes
The Busher Stakes is an American Thoroughbred stakes horse race for three-year-old fillies run each February at Aqueduct Race Track in Jamaica, New York and carries a purse of $65,000....
for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
on Sunday, February 24, 2008. Little Belle was timed at 1:44.3 for one and 1/16 mile race on a fast track. Little Belle paid $9.30 to win while Sweet Vendetta returned $8.60 to place. Sweet Vendetta then went on three weeks later to beat Love You Not by four lengths on March 18, 2008 in the $67,500 Andover Way Stakes for 3-year-old fillies in the rain and slop at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
. Jockey Channing Hill
Channing Hill
Channing Hill is an American jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Hill began riding horses when he was 16 years old. He rode full time at Prairie Meadows between his junior and senior years in high school. After graduating from Columbus High School in 2005 he traveled to New York to...
was aboard as Sweet Vendetta got her second win in six starts. She ran a mile and seventy yards in 1:42, paying $7.70 to win.
Her connections including pop star owner David Cassidy
David Cassidy
David Bruce Cassidy is an American actor, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his role as the character of Keith Partridge in the 1970s musical/sitcom The Partridge Family. He was one of pop culture's most celebrated teen idols, enjoying a successful pop career in the 1970s, and...
decided to enter her in the second jewel of America's defacto Filly Triple Crown, the $200,000 Grade II
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Black-eyed Susan Stakes.
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is the distaff counterpart to the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
, and was run on the Friday of Preakness Stakes weekend before a crowd of 28,407 who withstood constant wet weather with intermittent rain. A field of eight three-year-old fillies went to the gate in this one and one eighth mile feature race. Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks
The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers 1⅛ miles at Churchill Downs; the horses carry 121 pounds . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year...
fourth place finisher Bsharpsonata was sent off as the 5-2 favorite over 3-1 second choice Seattle Smooth
Seattle Smooth
Seattle Smooth is a 5yo Bay Filly bred in Kentucky by Dr. Oscar Benavides in collaboration with Darley Stud. Benavides bought Seattle Smooth's dam, the unraced Seattle Song mare Our Seattle Star and working closely with darley bred his mare to Quiet American a Stakes winning son of Fappiano who in...
, winner of the Bay Meadows Oaks last time out. Six to one shot Sherine was allowed an uncontested lead of three lengths through fractions of 23.6, 47.6 with entrymate Pious Ashley in second as the field passed the stands for the first time and worked around the club house turn.
Entering the lane at the top of the stretch, the leaders' strategy both failed as both faded from contention. Shes All Eltish, who settled in fifth early went out wide the whole way around the final turn, then she took over the lead at the 3/16 pole and quickly opened up a three length advantage on 8-1 Sweet Vendetta. Sweet Vendetta had raced back in 6th and 7th down the backstretch but when Jockey Channing Hill asked her for a big run he got it, as she powered by Shes All Eltish at the sixteenth pole and drew off to a 1-1/2 length win in 1:49.6 over the muddy, sealed main track. It was just another length back to late-running Seattle Smooth who finished in third, while favorite Bsharpsonata raced within four lengths of the pace for the first half mile then tired badly late to finish last beaten 23 lengths.
Sweet Vendetta only raced one more time and finished off the board before she was retired in 2008.