Jockey John Velazquez did not need to ask She Feels Pretty for her best down the stretch in her notching a comfortable victory in the Dec. 26 American Oaks (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, but the headstrong 3-year-old filly tested many of the Hall of Famer's skills before that point.
Off slowly to begin, she took an awkward step heading down the hillside turf course as the field crossed over the main track to the primary grass course at Santa Anita. Becoming aggressive thereafter, she dragged Velazquez forward after the leaders, forcing him to put her under stout restraint to avoid her using too much energy early in the 1 1/4-mile race. Then, leaving the backstretch, she and Velazquez found themselves hemmed in after an aggressive early move by Frankie Dettori aboard Kathynmarissa.
At that point, Velazquez had seen enough.
"I'm not gonna play this game," he said, describing his thoughts. "I'm gonna go."
Away she went, angled wide on the second turn to go from fourth on the turn to first before the head of the stretch en route to blowing open the $303,000 race. She cruised under the wire 2 1/2 lengths ahead of runner-up Kathynmarissa, with Medoro another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
Following fractions of :46.25 and 1:11.51 set by longshots Vibez and Valence, She Feels Pretty struck the front with a mile in 1:36.06 on her way to a final time of 1:58.69 on firm turf. She paid $3.20 to win in the field of 11 3-year-old fillies.
Winning trainer Cherie DeVaux praised Velazquez for his work as She Feels Pretty's principal rider. Velazquez believes the filly is best suited to being "covered up" early—in other words, drafting behind rivals and not shown daylight—hence the early restraint.
Velazquez credited DeVaux for developing the Lael Stables-owned filly, who began her career at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Ellis Park, into a 1 1/4-mile winner in grade 1 company. DeVaux added blinkers to She Feels Pretty's equipment before the Oct. 12 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland.
"So it's been quite rewarding to watch the process with her," DeVaux said.
From just eight starts, She Feels Pretty notched a third top-level stakes victory in taking the American Oaks after winning the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in her prior start and the Natalma Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine as a 2-year-old in 2023.
Bred in Kentucky by Payson Stud, She Feels Pretty was acquired by Lael Stables for $240,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Stone Farm consignment. She is the second foal, second starter and winner, and sole stakes winner produced from the More Than Ready mare Summer Sweet from three foals of racing age.
She Feels Pretty is one of two graded stakes winners for Gainesway stallion Karakontie this year, joining Louisville Stakes (G3T) winner Sugoi. Karakontie, a 13-year-old son of Bernstein, was a group 1 winner on grass as a juvenile in France and a year later captured the 2014 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T). He will stand the 2025 breeding season for $15,000 at Gainesway.
